SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Cluster Bombs

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General if she has been consulted on the legality of the use of cluster bombs.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, as chief legal advisers to Her Majesty's Government, are available to advise the Government on all questions of international and domestic law. In this capacity, the Law Officers have been asked to advise, from time to time, on legal issues relating to the use of force, including international humanitarian law. There is a long-standing convention that neither the substance of the Law Officers' advice, nor the fact that they have been consulted, is disclosed outside Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ambassadors (Ethnic Origin)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to appoint the first (a) black and (b) Asian ambassador.

Ben Bradshaw: The first minority ethnic ambassador was appointed in 1993. Mr. Noel Jones served as ambassador to Kazakhstan from 1993 to 1995.
	The Diplomatic Service is committed to reflecting the modern face of Britain and to attracting talent from all ethnic groups. To this end, we are continually working to encourage minority ethnic people to apply to join the service.

Departmental Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by his Department; if he will list such assets sold over the last three years together with the sale proceeds from such transactions; what plans he has to sell further such assets over the period of the current comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 31 October 2001
	A description of the antiques and paintings in FCO properties appears in the FCO part of the national asset register. The Government wine cellar contains substantial stocks of fine wines for use at home. The FCO manages the cellar on behalf of the Government as a whole, and not exclusively for the FCO. The FCO owns no wine stocks overseas. No antiques, paintings or wines have been sold over the past three years and there are no plans to sell such items over the period of the current comprehensive spending review.

Cuba

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the US Secretary of State the inclusion of Cuba on the US list of nations that sponsor terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Foreign Secretary has not discussed the US list of nations that sponsor terrorism with the US Secretary of State. The Government do not subscribe to the list; it is a US list and a matter for the US authorities.

Indonesia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sulawesi, Indonesia, with particular reference to attacks on the Christian minority by Muslim extremists.

Ben Bradshaw: The sentencing to death of three Christian militia leaders on 5 April provoked civil disturbances in Poso, central Sulawesi. Following the deployment of an additional Infantry Battalion in August, the situation in Poso itself has been calm. However, some low-level violence between Muslims and Christians has continued in remoter areas of Sulawesi.
	We will continue to monitor cases of inter-communal violence closely and raise our concerns with the Indonesian Government at every appropriate opportunity.

Indonesia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he plans to have with the Indonesian authorities on the subject of inter-religious violence.

Ben Bradshaw: I most recently raised this issue with the Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz, when we met in Jakarta in August.
	We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and raise our concerns with the Indonesian Government at every appropriate opportunity.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Part-time Employment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from employers following the passage of the Part-Time Employees (Prevention of Less Favourite Treatment) Regulations 2000.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has received no representations from employers on the regulations themselves since they came into force. However, we worked closely with employer representatives during and following the passage of the regulations to develop appropriate guidance for business, and we continue to discuss issues relating to part-time work with employers and employer groups from time to time.

Information and Consultation Directive

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the sanctions proposed for firms that fail to comply with the information and consultation directive.

Alan Johnson: The proposed directive requires member states to determine the provisions for enforcement of the obligations provided they are effective, proportionate and dissuasive. This part of the text was not the subject of amendment by the European Parliament. The Government will consult fully in due course on the implementation of the directive, including the question of sanctions.

Information and Consultation Directive

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the European Parliament amendments to the draft information and consultation directive which were passed on 23 October and the Government's policy in respect of the draft directive as amended.

Alan Johnson: The Government believe it is unnecessary and unhelpful to try to change the text of the proposed directive agreed at the Council of Ministers in June. We will be strongly defending the Council's common position. The UK is not alone in this view. Several other member states are also opposed to changing the flexible measures previously agreed. We expect the Council to stick closely to the common position text.

Information and Consultation Directive

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make an assessment of the impact of the changes to the information and consultation directive which were agreed in the European Parliament on 23 October on the regulatory burden on small business in the UK.

Alan Johnson: The proposed directive will not affect small businesses and the European Parliament's proposed amendments do not alter this fact. In the UK the directive will apply to undertakings with 50 or more employees and will, therefore, only affect about 1 per cent. of UK businesses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

International Labour Conference

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the instruments adopted at the 88th session of the International Labour Conference.

Nick Brown: The 88th session of the International Labour Conference adopted a new convention revising the Maternity Protection Convention 1952 and a Recommendation supplementing the convention. The texts of the instruments have been placed in the Library.

Child Support

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the CSA is owed in unpaid maintenance.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Colin Pickthall, dated 1 November 2001
	I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the Child Support Agency.
	You asked how much the CSA is owed in unpaid maintenance.
	The amount of maintenance that is owed as at year ending March 2001 is £527.80million.
	In the year 2000/2001 our target was to reduce the amount of outstanding debt by 25%. We met that target and have set ourselves the same challenge for 2001/2002.

Jobcentre Plus

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if new benefit claimants living in the postcode areas laid out in Schedule 1 of the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001 will be required to visit a new Jobcentre Plus office rather than an existing Benefits Agency or Employment Service office;
	(2)  at which office new benefit claimants residing in SW14 will have to attend for compulsory work-focused interviews with reference to Schedule 1 of the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus will start to roll out nationally next year. At present, only people of working age living within the postcode areas that are served by Jobcentre Plus pathfinders or work-focused interview sites will be required to visit those offices to claim benefits. Other people will continue to make their claims through their local Benefits Agency office or Employment Service Jobcentre. These regulations are not being applied to people who live within the postcode area SW14.

Sign Language

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help is available for those who wish to pursue signing courses to help with the advancement of an understanding of sign language.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 October 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	Sign language courses are currently available through a range of FE colleges, universities and schools. There are currently four registered centres for the provision of British sign language training in Gloucestershire. Information about the availability of these courses can be obtained from Careers Services, Connexions Services and providers of information, advice and guidance for adult learners.
	The Learning and Skills Council has access to funds to meet or stimulate demand for learning, including signing. For provision that is not publicly funded, my Department can provide individuals with a career development loan covering up to 80 per cent. of the cost of their training.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

St. Barnabas Reading

Jane Griffiths: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the financial consequences of the actions of the Diocese of Oxford with regard to St. Barnabas church in Reading.

Stuart Bell: The Diocese of Oxford is considering proposals for the pastoral reorganisation of the benefice and parish in which St. Barnabas is situated, but has not yet taken any action with respect to this church which has financial consequences.
	The Church Commissioners have a quasi-judicial role which they might have to exercise in respect of any proposals made by the diocese, so I am not able to take the matter further on the Floor of the House.

Inter-faith Dialogue

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what spending the Commission has allocated for policies designed to encourage inter-faith dialogue.

Stuart Bell: None. The Church Commissioners' primary legal responsibility is to manage their assets for the support of the Church of England's serving and retired ministry.
	Inter-faith policy is not directly a matter for the commissioners.

Works of Art

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what his policy is on the sale of works of art owned by the Church of England.

Stuart Bell: The majority of such works of art are owned by parish churches and cathedrals. Their disposal is governed by legislation.
	The commissioners own relatively few of the Church of England's works of art. They would consider any sale on its merits, in the light of their wider legal duties, and in consultation with interested parties.

Child Care

Harry Cohen: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what money the commissioners have received for child care related matters in the last 12 months; and how it is used.

Stuart Bell: The commissioners' primary legal responsibility is the financial support of the Church of England's serving and retired ministry. They receive no funds for child care related matters.

Historic Buildings (VAT)

Paul Tyler: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the Commissioners have made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about remission of VAT on repairs and conservation work to historic churches and chapels since 7 March.

Stuart Bell: The Church of England and other faiths have welcomed the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that churches would be eligible to receive reimbursement equivalent to a reduction in VAT payable on the repair and maintenance of listed buildings from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent.
	The Church has been included in consultation over the implementation of the scheme. We understand this is imminent and that eligible claims will be considered for all work undertaken from 1 April 2001.

PRIME MINISTER

Tibet

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Prime Minister when he will meet the Chinese Vice-President during his visit to the UK this month; and if he will raise the issue of Tibet.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he and other Ministers had with the Vice- President of China about the position of Tibet during his recent visit; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: holding answer 1 November 2001
	I met Vice-President Hu Jintao on 29 October. The main focus of our discussion was the international coalition against terrorism, but we also discussed a range of other issues including Tibet. Tibet was discussed in detail in a meeting on 30 October between the Under- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane), and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who was accompanying the Vice-President.

Anthrax

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the holdings of anthrax by the Iraqi Government, with special reference to the particular strains held.

Tony Blair: After years of denial, Iraq eventually declared to UNSCOM in 1995 that it had produced anthrax as a biological weapon fill for ballistic missile warheads and bombs. It declared it had possessed a number of different strains of the micro-organism. At the time, Iraq claimed to have already destroyed all of its BW weapons and agents. However, it did not provide the evidence, then or subsequently, to enable UNSCOM to verify this.

Contingency Planning

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Prime Minister what sub-committees he has constituted to support the Civil Contingencies Committee in its review of the country's contingency planning arrangements.

Tony Blair: I have directed that three new sub-committees be constituted to make recommendations within the remit of the Civil Contingencies Committee.
	The Civil Contingencies Committee is a long-standing committee. Its composition and terms of reference are set out together with those of three new sub-committees.
	Civil Contingencies Committee
	Composition:
	Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chairman).
	Others, including HM Treasury and the devolved Administrations, will be invited to attend, depending on the contingency.
	Terms of Reference:
	"To co-ordinate the preparation of plans for ensuring in an emergency the supplies and services essential to the life of the community; to keep these plans under regular review; and to supervise their prompt and effective implementation in specific emergencies."
	Sub committee on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear consequence management—CCC(CBRN)
	Composition:
	Minister of State with responsibility for crime reduction, policing and community safety—the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham)—(Chairman).
	Officials from:
	HM Treasury
	Home Office
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Department of Health
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Northern Ireland Office
	Scotland Office
	Wales Office.
	The devolved Administrations are invited to attend as are others in accordance with their expertise, experience and responsibilities.
	Terms of reference:
	"To review contingency and other arrangements to protect the UK against the effects of a terrorist attack using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear means, particularly in the light of the terrorist attacks of 11 September."
	Sub committee on London resilience—CCC(LR)
	Composition:
	Minister for Local Government (Chairman)
	Officials from:
	HM Treasury
	Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Home Office
	Government Office for London.
	Others, including the Mayor of London, are invited to attend in accordance with their experience and expertise and in order to engage all responsible organisations in London.
	Terms of reference:
	"To review contingency arrangements for London, particularly in the light of the terrorist attacks of 11 September."
	Sub committee on UK resilience—CCC(UKR)
	Composition:
	Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chairman)
	Officials from:
	HM Treasury
	Home Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Department of Health
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Northern Ireland Office
	Scotland Office
	Wales Office.
	Others, including the devolved Administrations, are invited to attend in accordance with their expertise, experience and responsibilities.
	Terms of reference:
	"To review contingency arrangements for key suppliers, services and other systems which support the life of the community, particularly in the light of the terrorist attacks of 11 September."

Downing Street

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister how many people are employed at (a) No. 10 Downing street and (b) the Cabinet Office; and how many were employed there on 1 May 1997.

Tony Blair: On 1 September, there were 5,284 staff employed by the Cabinet Office, of whom 175 staff were on the payroll of No. 10. Of these Cabinet Office staff, 2,458 worked in the Government Offices for the Regions.
	Staff numbers of 1 May 1997 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Assassination

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what the Government's policy is on the assassination of enemy leaders.

Tony Blair: Our policy is to act in accordance with UK and international law. One of our key objectives in the on-going military action in Afghanistan is to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Railtrack

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes in implementation date he anticipates for the following projects owing to the change of ownership of Railtrack, (a) west coast main line in Scotland (i) overhead line equipment, (ii) electrical distribution systems, (iii) power supply systems and (iv) supervisory control and date acquisition system, (b) Edinburgh Waverley, (c) Glasgow Central, (d) Scottish Express routes, (e) automatic warning systems on Girvan to Stranraer, (f) Mossend interlocking renewal, (g) signal interlocking renewal at Glasgow Central, (h) service improvements throughout the Edinburgh urban routes, (i) new station at Beauly, (j) train protection on routes currently signalled using RETB in the Highland rural route and (k) Edinburgh Crossrail.

David Jamieson: Railtrack's administration should not itself affect project implementation. The administrator has taken over Railtrack's contractual commitments and the Government will ensure that he has sufficient funds to maintain the full operation of the network. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would expect any changes to contracts commitments to be agreed with the parties to the contracts and with the Strategic Rail Authority.

Railtrack

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the decision to place Railtrack in administration on the value of local authority pension funds;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on the impact of the Government's intervention in Railtrack on the value of local authority pensions funds.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 2 November 2001
	My Department is in regular touch with all the interested parties on the effectiveness of the regulations that govern local authorities' responsibility for the management and investment of their pension funds. The regulations are designed to ensure that pension fund portfolios are adequately diversified and so be able to withstand changes in market conditions.

London Underground

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  at which discount rate used for the sensitivity analyses of the effect of changing discount rates on the relative levels of the public sector comparator and the bids for the London Underground PPPs a switching point or switching points were found; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which discount rates were used for sensitivity analysis of the effect of changing discount rates on the relative levels of the public sector comparator and the bids for the London Underground PPPs; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government's plans for a publicly run, privately built tube will deliver around £13 billion of investment to improve the underground's infrastructure over the next 15 years. London Transport has yet to receive final bids on these plans. Consequently, it is too early to say whether changing the discount rate will lead to a switching point.
	When final bids are received they will be evaluated for value for money on a variety of financing and discounting scenarios.

London Underground

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many lines on the London Underground were subject to delayed or cancelled services on Tuesday 23 October; what the cause and length of the subsequent delay was for each line; and if more than one line was affected at any one time.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground, which confirms that 10 lines (Central, Circle, District, East London, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Waterloo & City) were affected by delays (of at least 15 minutes) and/or cancellations. They have provided details of delays, their cause and duration as follows:
	
		Incidents, which were a cause of significant train delays and cancellations on Tuesday, 23 October 2001
		
			  Time  Location  Nature of incident Delay (minutes) 
		
		
			 04.24 Royal Oak Late engineering work. Hammersmith & City Line suspended between Edgware Road to Hammersmith. Circle Line stock was prevented from reaching the service area from Hammersmith depot. 59 
			 04.59 Rayners Lane No signalman. Service suspended on the Piccadilly Line between South Harrow to Uxbridge and Metropolitan Line between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge. 66 
			 05.18 Blackfriars Late engineering work. District Line suspended between South Kensington and Whitechapel. 28 
			 06.08 Watford Alleged (subsequently unfounded) signal irregularity. Metropolitan Line suspended between Northwood and Watford. 85 
			 08.06 Canary Wharf Jubilee Line suspended between Canary Wharf and Stratford due to security alert (white powder found). 65 
			 09.01 Whitechapel Security alert. Suspensions on the District (Tower Hill to Whitechapel), Hammersmith & City (Plaistow to Liverpool Street) and East London Lines (Shoreditch to Canada Water), due to a suspected World War II bomb (found to be a pipe). 75 
			 10.45 Mansion House Fire alert. Westbound service on the Circle and District Lines delayed. 20 
			 11.23 Gloucester Road Fire alert. Westbound service on the Circle and District and Lines delayed. 25 
			 11.48 High Street Kensington Fire alert. Service suspended between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road on the Circle and District Lines. 47 
			 15.24 High Street Kensington Report of persons on track. District Line suspended between Earls Court and Edgware Road. Circle Line suspended. 68 
			 16.50 Stratford Signal failure. Eastbound service on Jubilee Line delayed. 16 
			 17.23 Moorgate Signal failure. Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines suspended between Edgware Road and Aldgate. 45 
			 18.09 North Greenwich Signal failure. Jubilee Line suspended between London Bridge and Stratford. 203 
			 18.19 Ealing Broadway Security alert. Services suspended to North Acton (Central Line) and Turnham Green (District Line). 34 
			 22.19 London Bridge Security alert. Northern Line suspended between Kennington to Camden Town. 22 
			 23.31 Royal Oak Obstruction on track. Hammersmith & City Line suspended between Edgware Road and Hammersmith. 45

London Underground

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to replace the current fixed block signalling system on London Underground lines with more modern systems; if the moving block computerised system has been considered as an alternative; and when new systems are likely to be implemented.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for London Underground Ltd. to consider.
	London Underground has undertaken £84 million of signalling improvements since the Government announced plans for the modernisation of the tube on 20 May 1998. A further £27 million of improvements are being undertaken in this financial year.
	The tube modernisation plans will deliver a massive increase in the level of investment across the underground. Examples of signalling improvements to be delivered in the first period of the contracts include new signals on the Northern line to get the full benefit from the new trains; replacement of the Victoria line signals as part of a complete modernisation package; an upgrade of the Jubilee line signalling; a new signalling control centre on the Piccadilly line; improved signal reliability on the Bakerloo line; and greater signal capacity for the Waterloo and City line. In addition, all the signalling on the Circle, District and Metropolitan lines will be renewed in the next 10 years.
	The signalling improvements to be delivered are specified in terms of the outputs required; it is for bidders to decide what type of technology will best achieve the necessary results.

London Underground

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many delays on London Underground were reported to have been caused by problems with (a) track and signalling and (b) rolling stock in the latest year that figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground, which defines delays as intervals of 15 minutes or more, which is the threshold for granting refunds to passengers under the customer charter. In 2000–01, the latest complete year for which data on delays are available, delays were attributed as follows: (a) track on 236 occasions, and signals on 662 occasions; (b) rolling stock on 569 occasions.

Rail Upgrades (North-East)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans and programmes there were for (a) the upgrade of the east coast main line and (b) for upgrades and extensions of rail lines in the north-east of England as at 1 October.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced on 14 September that they had allocated £17.5 million for development work for phase two of the project to upgrade the east coast main line. The SRA is also considering a number of applications for funding from the rail passengers partnership scheme including provision of passenger services over the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line and to reopen the Leamside line.
	The SRA intends to submit its strategic plan to Ministers by the end of November which will set out its priorities for enhancement to the network.

Local Parks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to ensure everyone has access to local parks.

Sally Keeble: We have established the urban green spaces task force to assist my Department in developing policies and proposals for the future of parks, play areas and green spaces. Ensuring that people have easy access to their local parks and other green spaces is an issue which is being considered and for which we will develop proposals.

County Hall

Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what amount is outstanding from the sale of County hall, London SE1 to the Shiryam group; how long it has been outstanding; if interest is being charged, and when the balance will be paid in full.

Alan Whitehead: The contract for the sale of County hall provided for a deferred sum of £10 million to be paid to the London residuary body from April 1996, subject to the full sum being paid by 2012. Following the winding up of the London residuary body on 29 March 1996, the London borough of Bromley inherited the remaining rights and liabilities in respect of County hall, including those in relation to the payment of this sum. I understand that, in line with the contractual terms, no interest is due and no amount has yet been paid to Bromley.

Strategic Rail Authority

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what salary the chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority will receive.

John Spellar: This information is set out in the press release issued by my Department on 24 October about this appointment, a copy of which is in the House Library.

Jubilee Line

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signal failures were reported on the Jubilee line for the five days from Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October inclusive.

David Jamieson: I understand from London Underground Ltd. that there were seven signal failures during this period. The recurring problem has been identified and corrected. Its cause is under investigation. Recovery from signal failures on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 was hampered by a passenger taken ill on a train and a security alert respectively.

Local Government (City of Westminster)

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish the research into public attitudes to local government structures in the City of Westminster.

Alan Whitehead: We are currently editing the report of this research for publication, and will issue it in due course. I will write to the hon. Member when the report is published, and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the total cost of completing the Crossrail project;
	(2)  what proportion of funding for Crossrail will be required from the private sector.

David Jamieson: The assumption in the 10-year plan is that construction of Crossrail is to be fully financed by the private sector. In advance of detailed economic appraisal of the options it is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of the project. Almost £3.5 billion was included in the 10-year-plan as a broad indication of the cost of the infrastructure and new rolling stock. Public support is assumed to be provided in the form of subsequent revenue support, but will depend on the precise project and on negotiations with the rail industry.
	A total of £154 million of public funding has been allocated, jointly to the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, for preparation costs of the project in 2001–02 to 2003–04.

White Horse (Folkestone)

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from English Nature on the proposal for a white horse on the downs above Folkestone since the end of the inquiry into the proposal.

Sally Keeble: We have received no further representations on this case from English Nature since the inquiry.

Greater London Authority

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what was the (a) percentage real-terms increase in the precept on average domestic rates by the Greater London Council in each year from 1975 to its abolition and (b) real-terms increase in the precept on band D council tax by the Greater London Authority since its creation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what was (a) the percentage increase in the precept on average domestic rates by the Greater London Council in each year from 1975 to its abolition and (b) the increase in the precept on band D council tax by the Greater London Authority since is creation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: The available information is given in the tables. We shall this week be laying regulations to ensure that percentage cash increases in precepts, including the Greater London Authority's, will be shown clearly on council tax bills from next year.
	
		Greater London Council
		
			  Total rate levied Cash increase Real terms(1)  
			  pence in the £ percentage percentage 
		
		
			 1974–75 8.90 (3)— (3)— 
			 1975–76 16.20 82.0 45.4 
			 1976–77 (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 1977–78(2) 16.10 (3)— (3)— 
			 1978–79 16.10 0.0 -9.9 
			 1979–80 17.80 10.6 -5.3 
			 1980–81 19.40 9.0 -7.8 
			 1981–82 22.90 18.0 7.8 
			 1982–83 32.70 42.8 33.5 
			 1983–84 37.66 15.2 10.2 
			 1984–85 34.69 -7.9 -12.5 
			 1985–86 33.74 -2.7 -7.8 
		
	
	(1) Adjusted using the GDP deflator at market prices
	(2) Figures for 1977–78 onwards are taken from a different publication from those for earlier years and so may be on a slightly different basis
	(3) Not available
	(4) Not applicable, as the Greater London Authority did not exist in 1999–2000
	Sources:
	DOE and Welsh Office "Rates and Rateable Values in England and Wales", 1974–75 and 1975–76 editions
	CIPFA "Financial, General & Rating Statistics", 1977–78 to 1981–82 editions
	CIPFA "Financial and General Statistics" 1982–83 to 1985–86 editions
	BR returns for 2000–01 and 2001–02
	
		Greater London Authority
		
			  Council tax per band D property (£) Cash increase (percentage) Real terms(5) (percentage) 
		
		
			 2000–01 122.98 (6)— (6)— 
			 2001–02 150.88 22.7 19.7 
		
	
	(5) Adjusted using the GDP deflator at market prices
	(6) Figures for 1977–78 onwards are taken from a different publication from those for earlier years and so may be on a slightly different basis
	Sources:
	DOE and Welsh Office "Rates and Rateable Values in England and Wales", 1974–75 and 1975–76 editions
	CIPFA "Financial, General & Rating Statistics", 1977–78 to 1981–82 editions
	CIPFA "Financial and General Statistics", 1982–83 to 1985–86 editions
	BR returns for 2000–01 and 2001–02

Regional Planning

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  further to the publication of PPG 11, what plans his Department has to increase the scope of regional planning; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to issue new or revised national planning policy guidance in the next 12 months; if he will list the new guidance notes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: I shall be issuing a Green Paper shortly setting out proposals for comprehensive reform of the planning system.

Regional Planning

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to issue new or revised regional planning policy guidance in the next 12 months; if he will list the new guidance notes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: Regional planning guidance is issued by the Government offices. Since November 2000, revised regional planning policy guidance has been issued for East Anglia (RPG 6), the south-east (RPG 9), the south-west (RPG 10) and Yorkshire and the Humber (RPG 12). Over the next 12 months, new or revised regional planning policy guidance is due to be issued for the east midlands (RPG 8), the north-east (RPG 1) and the north-west (RPG 13). Draft revised regional planning guidance (RPG 11) for the west midlands, as prepared by the west midlands local government association, will be published for consultation very shortly.

Elections

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to increase turnout in (a) London Assembly and mayoral elections and (b) European parliamentary elections.

Stephen Byers: As the Electoral Commission stated in its report on the 2001 general election:
	"responsibility for re-engaging the electorate with the democratic process must rest in large part with the political parties". However, our programme for modernising electoral processes is aimed at improving access to electoral services for all elections. As a first step in October, we, in conjunction with the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Association, invited local authorities to apply to run innovative electoral pilot projects—including all-postal voting and online voting—at next May's local elections. We will consider how to take forward any lessons learned from those pilots in the London Assembly and mayoral elections and in the European parliamentary elections. The Electoral Commission is also examining the underlying reasons for low turnout and we will consider any conclusions they reach very carefully.

3G Technology

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the (a) Treasury and (b) Department of Trade and Industry concerning 3G mobile phone licences.

Stephen Byers: This Department had no discussion with either the Treasury or the Department of Trade and Industry over the awarding of the 3G mobile phone licences to the five successful bidders. Officials in this Department liaised with officials in the Department of Trade and Industry over the production of the information memorandum sent to prospective participants in the 3G auction to ensure that it contained accurate details of the planning regime as it applied to telecommunications apparatus.
	From time to time, officials in this Department liaise with officials in the Department of Trade and Industry on specific licence conditions, such as conditions requiring operators to explore the possibility of mast sharing.

3G Technology

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimates his Department has made of the increase in demand for additional mobile phone masts that will result from the implementation of 3G technology; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: This is a matter for the individual telecommunications operators. However, the operators are fully aware of the importance we attach to keeping the number of masts to the minimum practicable, for example through mast sharing, and to ensuring that those which are needed are designed and sited with sensitivity and care.

Schooling (Hackney)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what role he has played in the provision of schooling in the London borough of Hackney.

Stephen Byers: The provision of schooling is a matter for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. My Department pays revenue and capital grants to local authorities for a range of local services including the provision of schooling.

Loft Conversions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to require planning permission to be obtained for loft conversions; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Currently, loft conversions may or may not require planning applications depending on the circumstances of the case and the relevant permitted development rights. We will set out proposals for the future in our planning Green Paper.

Park Homes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation in relation to park homes; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Changes to the legislation relating to park homes were included in the recommendations of the park homes working party. We have consulted on, and are considering, the working party's recommendations. We hope to be able to announce our conclusions on this shortly.

Motorcyclists

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what restrictions apply to the wearing of black visors by motorcyclists.

David Jamieson: Visors worn by motorcyclists on a road must either comply with British Standard BS4110:1979 (as amended) or with UN ECE Regulation 22.05. These standards allow visors to have a moderate tint which allows at least 50 per cent. of the light to pass through.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many publications were issued by her Department in each of the last four years.

Clare Short: Since 1997 we have published all our major strategy documents, including all country and institutional strategy papers, as well as major consultation papers and speeches. Our publishing output has therefore expanded considerably.
	Due to the disproportionate cost involved we are not able to provide the full level of details requested. However within the main categories we have produced:
	
		
			 Category 2001–02 2000–01 1999–2000 1998–99 Total 
		
		
			 White papers — 1 — — 1 
			 Country strategy papers 4 10 12 18 44 
			 Institutional strategy papers 5 9 6 2 22 
			 Consultation papers (IDTs) — 1 8 — 9 
			 Target strategy papers (TSPs) 1 8 — — 9 
			 Background briefings 15 6 3 3 27 
			 Speech booklets 1 8 11 8 28 
			 Issues of Developments magazine 2 4 4 4 14 
		
	
	We also produce a publications catalogue which is updated every six months and lists the majority of departmental publications produced since 1997, together with information on how to obtain copies. A copy of the latest edition (October 2001) has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001, Official Report, columns 41–42W, on Belize, if she will place in the Library copies of the documents which recorded the conversation between her Permanent Secretary and the senior partner of KPMG on 18 May.

Clare Short: The conversation was confidential to the parties concerned.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date her Department obtained legal advice on the validity and applicability of the 1982 Britain-Belize Investor Protection Treaty for the Public Investment Companies with regard to the study commissioned by her Department to review the regulation of offshore financial services in Belize and the effect of tax exemptions on pro-poor programmes; what the conclusion of this legal advice was; on what date this advice was passed to the Government of Belize; and if she will place in the Library a copy of this advice.

Clare Short: Counsel's advice was received on 7 September and passed to the Government of Belize on 13 September. The advice is confidential to the UK and Belize Governments.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department requested KPMG to assess whether the 1982 Britain-Belize Investor Protection Treaty applied to the public investment companies during the study commissioned by her Department to review the regulation of offshore financial services in Belize and the effect of tax exemptions on pro-poor programmes; when this request was made by her Department; what the conclusion of this assessment was; and if she will place in the Library a copy of KPMG's assessment.

Clare Short: The request was implicit in the terms of reference for the study KPMG was contracted to undertake on 11 July 2000. KPMG's conclusion on this assessment was recorded in their report on the study. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 July 2001, Official Report, column 531W, concerning the confidentiality of the KPMG report.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 13 July 2001, Official Report, column 653W, on Belize, if she will place in the Library (a) a copy of the correspondence of 25 August 2000 in which her Department was informed by KPMG that KPMG were the external auditors of the Belize Bank and (b) copies of responses made by her Department to KPMG following the receipt of this correspondence.

Clare Short: A copy of the letter dated 25 August 2000 to DFID will be placed in the Library. The enclosures referred to in that letter are confidential to the parties concerned. No written response was made to this letter.

Belize

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings her Department has held since 3 August with the Government of Belize to discuss progress on the Commonwealth debt initiative and the effect of tax exemptions and public investment companies on pro-poor programmes; where each of these meetings took place; and which departments of the Government of Belize attended.

Clare Short: and sent to you during the recess, I met with Prime Minister Said Musa in London on 22 October to discuss this and other matters relevant to Belize.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects her Department supports in India; and what the amount of grants is in each case.

Clare Short: All project support to India is provided in the form of grants. The table provides details of active projects and total financial commitment.
	
		£ 
		
			 SI Number Projects Total commitment 
		
		
			 Andhra Pradesh   
			 1 Andhra Pradesh Energy Efficiency Project 42,700,000 
			 2 Andhra Pradesh Power Sector Reform Project 31,500,000 
			 3 Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructuring Project 5,300,000 
			 4 Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project 45,543,000 
			 5 Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor 94,413,000 
			 6 Impact and Expenditure Review for Government of Andhra Pradesh Project 600,000 
			 7 Andhra Pradesh Governance Reform Project 5,900,000 
			
			 Karnataka   
			 8 Karnataka Watershed Development Project 14,758,000 
			 9 IISD/MYRADA—Project on developing appreciative inquiry technique 105,052 
			 10 Western Ghats Forestry Project 23,294,000 
			 11 OXFAM—Western Ghats Parallel Project 173,643 
			
			 West Bengal   
			 12 West Bengal Sexual Health Project 4,780,000 
			 13 Eastern India Rainfed Farming Project 8,091,000 
			 14 Calcutta Slum Improvement Project 12,620,000 
			 15 West Bengal Reproductive and Child Health Project 2,990,000 
			 16 ADB—Calcutta Environment Improvement Project 28,300,000 
			 17 Christian Aid and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action Project 1,200,000 
			 18 Enhancing Pro-poor Governance in West Bengal and Bihar 212,000 
			
			 Madhya Pradesh   
			 19 Support to Self Employed Womens Association 14,000 
			 20 Madhya Pradesh Public Resource Management Project 350,000 
			 21 Western India Rainfed Farming Project Phase II 27,920,000 
			 22 Bihar—Madhya Pradesh Tribal Development Project 7,000,000 
			 23 Natural Resources Management Project in the Bundelkhund Region 1,170,000 
			 24 Indore Financial Services for the Poor Project 79,000 
			
			 Orissa   
			 25 Western Orissa Rural Livelihoods Project 32,750,000 
			 26 IFAD Tribal Development Project 25,000 
			 27 Orissa Power Sector Aid 67,000,000 
			 28 Hirakund Rehabilitation Project 21,400,000 
			 29 Orissa Gridco (Power Sector Reform) Restructuring Project 6,000,000 
			 30 Energy: Orissa Rural Community Electric Supplies (CENDERET project) 1,000,000 
			 31 Energy: Dadri Dry Ash Disposal Project 1,700,000 
			 32 Orissa Power Sector Reform: Field Management 4,013,037 
			 33 Orissa Public Sector Reforms Programme 19,000,000 
			 34 Orissa Budgetary Aid—Design Phase 25,000 
			 35 Orissa Health and Family Welfare Project Phase 3 3,827,000 
			 36 Orissa Social Marketing—PSI 2,270,000 
			 37 Orissa Urban Reproductive Health Project 4,997,780 
			 38 Cuttack Urban Slum Improvement Project 12,720,000 
			 39 Orissa cyclone rehabilitation initiatives 57,848,850 
			
			 National   
			 40 ILO-International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 2,860,000 
			 41 Revised National Tuberculosis Project 20,570,000 
			 42 WHO Operational Research on Tuberculosis 719,370 
			 43 World Bank Trust Fund 4,000,000 
			 44 ADB-Poverty Trust Fund 20,000,000 
			 45 CARE: Credit and Saving for Household Enterprises Project 9,852,401 
			 46 Haryana power Sector Reform and Restructuring Project 15,000,000 
			 47 Indo/UK collaboration on Oil Seed crops Phase II 2,000,000 
			 48 Development of Watershed Guidelines Project 60,000 
			 49 Forestry Training Project 2,020,000 
			 50 Integrated Coastal zone management training Project 1,000,000 
			 51 Private Sector Forestry Project 114,000 
			 52 Rural Development Programme Support Fund 100,000 
			 53 Education: Shiksha Karmi Project Phase II 20,140,000 
			 54 Education: Lok Jumbish Project 31,423,000 
			 55 Pulse Polio Project 40,813,000 
			 56 Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme 27,000,000 
			 57 STD: Truck Drivers (Support to HIV/AIDS programme targeted at the Highway community) 4,500,000 
			 58 Partnership for Sexual Health Project (Support to HIV/AIDS Programme) 28,180,000 
			 59 Gender Centre 2,000,000 
			 60 Public Administration training project 4,650,000 
			 61 Training Development of Indian Police 1,180,000 
			 62 BBC Marshall Plan for the Mind Project 1,217,825 
			 63 Small Industries Development Banking of India support project 16,585,000 
			 64 Community Ophthalmology Blindness programme support 1,119,754 
			 65 Environment and Poverty Link 200,000 
			 66 Health Systems policy development support 800,000 
			 67 Management Development for senior urban public health officials 1,460,000 
			 68 UNDP Monitoring and Evaluation Project 60,000 
			 69 Small Grants Scheme 212,000 
			 70 Water and sanitation Programme-South Asia 2,520,000 
			 71 Credit and Micro-enterprise support project 500,000 
			 72 UNICEF: Child Environment Improvement Project 17,500,000 
			 73 District Primary Education Project (AP+WB+Orissa) 166,416,000 
			
			 Others   
			 74 Himachal Pradesh Forestry Project 6,399,000 
			 75 Cochin Urban Poverty Reduction Project 11,947,000 
			 76 Natural Resources Management Project in the Western Himalayas 182,000

Tajikistan

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the extent of poverty and malnutrition in Tajikistan; and what aid has been offered to Tajikistan by the United Kingdom (a) directly and (b) through the programmes of the EU and United Nations.

Clare Short: Reliable data on Tajikistan are scarce. It is one of the poorest countries of the former Soviet Union, with rates of acute malnutrition ranging between 6.4 and 10.3 per cent. in different areas.
	Since 1994, the United Kingdom has offered a total of £29.7 million to Tajikistan. Of this, £1 million has been through DFID's direct programme. DFID has also channelled £9.5 million into humanitarian assistance. £11.8 million has been provided through the European Commission, mainly to ECHO (EC Humanitarian Office) programmes. £1 million has been allocated to ECHO this year. £1.2 million has been offered to Tajikistan through programmes of the United Nations.

DEFENCE

Harrier Pilots

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total requirement is for trained Harrier pilots in the (a) Navy and (b) RAF; and how many there are at present in each case.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The naval requirement for Sea Harrier pilots (Commander and below) as at 1 October 2001 was 64, with an authorised increase to 66 planned for 1 April 2003. The current naval strength (Commander and below) is 44. The Royal Air Force requires 85 Harrier pilots to fill Harrier GR7-specific flying and flying related ground appointments (Wing Commander and below). It has a current strength of 102 Harrier pilots. A number of these are filling career broadening posts such as staff appointments, or are serving as qualified flying instructors or with the RAF Aerobatic Team, and some are on exchange postings.

Retention

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve retention rates within the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: Armed forces retention is being tackled as a matter of the highest priority. Our aim is to maintain good levels of retention through policies that genuinely reflect the priorities of our people and their families, both at home and on deployment. A key outcome of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was a widespread recognition of the need for an Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy (AFOPS) as part of the 'Policy for People'. This was introduced in April 2000 to give more emphasis to personal issues. The SDR 'Policy for People' included some of the following aims: better terms and conditions; improvements to pay and allowances; better quality of training; addressing concerns about family life; ensuring equality of opportunity and provision of better accommodation. All these have now been embodied in the AFOPS Action Plan.

Retention

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is to improve the career prospects and retention of young service men and women; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: A wide range of challenging careers are offered to both young men and women joining the services. We need over 25,000 high quality, well motivated recruits each year to maintain the correct balance of age and experience; and the need for and success of training is therefore crucial to the continuing operational success of our armed forces. The Defence Training Review, completed earlier this year, emphasised the importance of transferable qualifications to both the recruitment and the retention of personnel in the armed forces. An earlier scheme to come out of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was the 'Learning Forces Initiative' which provides opportunities for service personnel to gain transferable skills and recognised civilian qualifications, not only improving and enriching their service careers but also preparing them for their second careers. The armed forces are also working closely with a number of key authorities to deliver increased recognition of service education and training leading to academic, vocational and professional qualifications. In summary, the armed forces provide attractive career prospects by offering: high quality training; accreditation of training wherever possible, against nationally recognised standards; a wide range of professionally demanding jobs, with many offering significant amounts of responsibility early on in careers; good promotion opportunities; encouragement to serve to age 40 or beyond; and provision of education facilities and grants to assist with the cost of education.
	Armed forces retention is being tackled as a matter of the highest priority. Our aim is to maintain good levels of retention through policies that genuinely reflect the priorities of our people and their families, both at home and on deployment. A key outcome of the Strategic Defence Review was a widespread recognition of the need for an Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy (AFOPS) as part of the 'Policy for People'. This was introduced in April 2000 to give more emphasis to personnel issues. The SDR 'Policy for People' included some of the following aims: better terms and conditions; improvements to pay and allowances; better quality of training; addressing concerns about family life; ensuring equality of opportunity and provision of better accommodation. New initiatives are under way in all of these areas.

Armed Forces (Pensions)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the report on the armed forces pension scheme will be published.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 29 October 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 319W.

Departmental Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by his Department; if he will list such assets sold over the last three years together with the sale proceeds from such transactions; what plans he has to sell further such assets over the period of the current Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Ministry of Defence has approximately 250 significant antiques, such as clocks and furniture, together with many more having little intrinsic value but some historic interest to the Department. The Department also has approximately 800 works of fine art, together with many more miscellaneous items of little intrinsic value, such as photographs, reproductions, maps and manuscripts. The Department has no stocks of fine wines. None of these assets has been sold over the last three years, and there are no plans to sell any over the period of the current Comprehensive Spending Review. The terms of bequest of many of the most important pieces prohibit disposal. Additionally, the Department is responsible for the many Regimental Museums throughout the country, whose collections are open to the public, and for minor collections of publicly owned works of art, such as the Sandhurst Collection, which are displayed at the Royal Military Academy.

Debt of Honour Register

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a website giving a debt of honour register similar to that on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, to provide personal and service details and places of commemoration for those armed forces personnel who have served and died for their country since the second world war.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently no plans to set up a website to commemorate those service personnel who have died since the end of the Second World War. However, the subject is being considered as an additional initiative which could be undertaken in collaboration with the proposals to establish a new memorial to armed forces personnel who have died in the post-war years, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 10 November 2000, Official Report, column 414W.

Challenger 2

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Challenger 2 main battle tanks failed to complete Exercise Saif Sareea 2 because of mechanical or technical problems.

Geoff Hoon: A total of 65 Challenger 2 were deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea 2. The exercise was designed, deliberately, to test the military equipment and personnel deployed on it. Its duration, complexity and the very harsh environmental conditions in which it was conducted combined to offer an excellent training opportunity, enabling us to identify, under realistic conditions, the challenges we might face in future operations. Complex equipment requires routine maintenance to ensure continued peak performance, resulting in temporary periods of non-availability. This is entirely to be expected for deployments of this nature and represents an integral part of the training process.
	Experience gained from the early stages of the exercise in logistically sustaining the Challenger 2 fleet required some rescoping of the exercise programme to ensure that the required supply of spares could be sustained. Against this revised programme of activity, the average availability of Challenger 2 was in excess of 80 per cent. and would have been higher if there had not been a delay in a routine supply of track spares.

Challenger 2

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected life is of airfilters used in Challenger 2 main battle tanks in desert conditions.

Lewis Moonie: The designed life of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank air filter was 14 hours when used in extreme desert conditions. Work is currently in hand to determine whether the expected life of the air filter needs to be adjusted in the light of recent experience gained from operating the tank in desert conditions. Stock levels will be adjusted accordingly.

Challenger 2

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cost of converting Challenger 2 main battle tanks for desert conditions.

Lewis Moonie: Two options have been investigated for the desertisation of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (CR2 MBT). The first involves a modification package, and would cost approximately £140,000 per tank. The second option, which involves remodelling the main engine compartment, is based on the Omani CR2 MBT. This would cost approximately £250,000 per tank.

Army Foundation College

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made on the establishment of an Army Foundation College in Dundee; and where the other proposed sites are for this establishment.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The Army needs to attract good quality young people by providing excellent education and work-related training in good facilities. The Army Foundation College (AFC) at Harrogate in Yorkshire provides this, but is currently oversubscribed. The Army are working on new proposals for a second more flexible college for the provision of improved facilities for a range of abilities and age groups. Various alternatives are under study, including establishing a second AFC delivered through partnership. If it were decided to pursue a second college by way of a Public Private Partnership, it would be announced through the Official Journal of the European Community in the normal way. It would then be open for an proposals for the college, including its location, to be put forward for consideration as part of the competitive process. We anticipate a variety of sites, including existing Ministry of Defence and other locations, to be proposed.
	A decision on the way forward is unlikely before next year.

Royal Prerogative

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ministerial decisions were made where authority for the same derived from the royal prerogative in the most recent calendar month for which information is available.

Lewis Moonie: Records are not kept of the individual occasions on which powers under the royal prerogative are exercised nor could it be practicable to do so.

Pharmaceutical Plants (Security)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that plants which manufacture antibiotics for the treatment of anthrax and other biological or chemical weapons are given enhanced security.

Adam Ingram: The level of security in place at commercial establishments that manufacture antibiotics and other agents to counter biological or chemical weapons is based on the threat pertaining to that establishment. In the first instance, security is a matter for the owners/operators of the establishments. Beyond that, security rests with the police who can, if they feel the threat is beyond their capacity, call on established procedures to augment security, for example, through military assistance, at such establishments. The security of such facilities is also under active review as a result of the events of 11 September.

Role 3 Field Hospital

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding he is providing for the establishment of a Role 3 field hospital in partnership with the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: We are not making any funding available specifically to establish a Role 3 field hospital in partnership with the Netherlands. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands setting out arrangements for the joint provision of an integrated Role 3 medical unit on future peacekeeping, peace enforcement or humanitarian relief operations in which both nations wish to participate. The aim is to make sensible and cost-effective use of valuable medical resources and avoid duplication of medical support. Existing resources will be used and the integrated Role 3 unit will be formed only when required. Medical personnel of both nations will undertake training and exercises together when possible to develop and foster interoperability.

HMS Ocean

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much time HMS Ocean spent in dock undergoing repairs, before being handed over to the Royal Navy; how much time she has spent in service at sea, since she was handed over to the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: During the period between HMS Ocean's launch in October 1995 and her handover to the Royal Navy in March 1999, she spent some 15 weeks in dock undergoing repairs. Since then, she has been available for programming, either at sea or in harbour, for a total of 904 days.

Gurkhas

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Gurkha reinforcement companies in the British Army and the units to which they are assigned.

Adam Ingram: Gurkha Reinforcement Companies are currently serving with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in Colchester, 1 Royal Irish based in Canterbury and 1 Highlanders in Edinburgh. In addition, there are formed Gurkha units serving with 10 Transport Regiment, 30 Signal Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment and in training establishments at Sandhurst and Brecon.

Suez Campaign Medal

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce a medal for the Suez campaign; and if he will make a statement on how veterans of that conflict may be recognised for their contribution.

Lewis Moonie: Service in the Suez Campaign, the Anglo/French Landings which took place in late 1956 as Operation Musketeer, was recognised by the institution of the Naval General Service Medal for Royal Navy personnel and the General Service Medal for Army and Royal Air Force personnel, with clasp Near East. There are no plans to institute a medal for service in the Canal Zone during the early 1950s.

Glencorse Barracks

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds will be made available to maintain Glencorse Barracks pending announcement of plans for its reuse.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 2 November 2001
	Although the Army's Initial Training function based at Glencorse Barracks will transfer to Catterick during 2002, the Recruit Selection Centre will remain at Glencorse and will be funded to maintain its activity.

Glencorse Barracks

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has to house an infantry battalion in Glencorse Barracks; and when this will take place;
	(2)  if the options for Glencorse Barracks include stationing an infantry battalion there.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The Army's Initial Training function based at Glencorse Barracks will transfer to the School of Infantry at Catterick during 2002. The Recruit Selection Centre will, however, remain at Glencorse and it is the intention to retain a further Army presence there, although the extent of this has not yet been established.

Gibraltar Regiment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to celebrate 300 years of British rule in Gibraltar.

Lewis Moonie: At the present time the Ministry of Defence has made no plans to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of British rule in Gibraltar and has not received any requests for participation in any events which are being organised.

Chinooks

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinooks were unserviceable during Exercise Saif Sareea 2; and for what period of time.

Geoff Hoon: The eight Chinook helicopters deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea 2 performed well in very testing environmental conditions. Their availability varied throughout the exercise. This was in part affected by engineering instructions issued from the UK that required non-exercise related maintenance on a number of air frames.
	The average daily availability rate during the main period of the exercise was around 70 per cent.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis she was convinced that the information concerning tests to establish the presence of BSE in sheep, presented to her Department by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist on 17 October would leak; who she was convinced would leak the information; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The theoretical possibility of BSE in sheep is an issue of great sensitivity, generating widespread public interest. In light of the information a scheduled meeting of SEAC was—by the decision of its chairman—cancelled at short notice. This in itself was likely to stimulate further interest. In such circumstances, it is reasonable to assume that the possibility of leaks will be much higher and their impact more serious.
	A press release was issued on 17 October about what we knew for certain. This was done to avoid the risk of information on a serious issue being presented incorrectly and piecemeal. Nor did we want to exacerbate public concern—in a situation of uncertainty—by giving the impression that the Government were withholding important information.

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the results of the inquiries into the errors made by the Institute of Animal Health in relation to BSE in sheep will be made public.

Margaret Beckett: Urgent and independent scientific inquiries have been established already. We will not know the full facts until they have reported. We will continue to keep the House and the public informed of developments.

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to conduct further research into whether BSE is present in the national sheep flock; and if she will made a statement.

Margaret Beckett: We will carry out a thorough review of the full range of scientific studies currently being undertaken in this area. In doing so we will take account of work that is being conducted elsewhere in Europe and the views of the Food Standards Agency and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. Findings will be made available to the House.

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what inquiries have been commissioned into the results of the Institute of Animal Health in relation to BSE in sheep; and if she will made a statement;
	(2)  if she will establish an independent inquiry into the failure of the research into whether BSE is present in sheep.

Margaret Beckett: Following the receipt of the results of DNA testing by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist on Wednesday 17 October, an independent risk assessment company was immediately commissioned to perform a detailed audit of the Institute of Animal Health research into BSE and sheep; including how the relevant samples were stored and handled.
	Additionally, the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) has been asked to undertake to a longer time scale a rigorous assessment of the chain of custody arrangements for the IAH experiment.

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will give details of all work commissioned or undertaken by (a) the Government and (b) its agencies into BSE in sheep since May 1997, stating, in each case (i) which organisations have been involved in which tasks and (ii) what costs or payments have been incurred.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	A list of all research projects on TSEs, funded by UK funding bodies, is available on the MRC website at http://www.mrc/ac.uk/tse—2c.htm. This includes details of duration and cost of projects and the research organisations involved, as well as abstracts of the research projects.

Ovine BSE (Research)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to achieve faster results from tests to establish whether sheep have been infected with BSE.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Work is being undertaken to develop molecular profiling techniques so that a rapid, initial indication of whether BSE is likely to be present can be obtained. This will allow screening of the material that is to be tested using conventional strain typing in mice. The latter method, which is the test that has been used to date to distinguish between scrapie and BSE is very slow, taking up to two years to complete.
	Of course this area will be examined as part of the thorough review of the range of scientific studies currently being undertaken into BSE and sheep; as I announced on 22 October.

Scrapie

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish a Bill to enable the Government to take powers to ensure the removal, from the national sheep flock, of genotypes of sheep susceptible to scrapie; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Bill was published on 25 October.

Scrapie

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to eliminate scrapie from the national sheep flock; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Government launched a national scrapie plan for Great Britain in July. This will breed resistance to scrapie into the national flock.
	The plan has initially been targeted at producers of purebred, pedigree breeding sheep registered with a recognised breed society. We are currently consulting about rapid extension of the plan to the remainder of the pure breeding flock, including special action for scrapie-infected flocks. We are considering other ways of speeding up implementation of the plan and we recently announced our intention to introduce a Bill that would allow the Government to take powers to remove from the breeding flock, on a compulsory basis, sheep with genotypes that make them susceptible to scrapie.
	We are also consulting on ways to encourage the reporting of scrapie when it occurs, and next year we will be undertaking a survey to gain more knowledge of the incidence of scrapie, using rapid testing methods.

Agrimonetary Compensation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what would be the estimated net cost to public funds of drawing down all EU agrimonetary compensation packages currently available.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 October 2001
	There is approximately £55 million of agrimonetary compensation currently available for the arable sector. The net cost to the UK Exchequer of drawing down this sum would be approximately £47 million.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effect on the environment of dioxin veltase associated with the disposal of carcases during the foot and mouth outbreak.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Dioxins have been measured in the air and the environment around some of the pyres used to dispose of carcases during the foot and mouth outbreak. All this monitoring data will be reported on the Department of Health website.
	Analysis of the air measurements and modelling by the Environment Agency suggest that earlier estimates of dioxin emissions were likely to have been overestimates and to have erred on the precautionary side.
	Levels of dioxins measured in soil, herbage and food were mostly similar to levels at control farms not affected by pyres. Some chemical analysis of ash from pyres has been performed. Levels of dioxins were within the range found in urban soils.
	The Food Standards Agency considers that the available results show that the pyres have posed no additional risk to health through the food supply.

Foot and Mouth

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to give financial assistance to the Youth Hostel Association to offset the impact of foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: We are well aware of the impact that foot and mouth disease and the measures to control it have had on the Youth Hostel Association's finances. I and the Minister with responsibility for tourism, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, have met representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help. We have recently announced a change to the guidelines for the Business Recovery Fund to clarify that individual hostels, if their applications meet the Fund criteria, may apply for assistance in their own right. In the light of the recommendations of the rural task force which I chair, published on 18 October, we are considering what further help might be made available.

Meat Imports

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to tighten controls on the importation of meat products.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	My Department is co-ordinating action across Government to improve our ability to detect and prevent illegal imports. Improved publicity for travellers has been introduced. Posters have been placed at main airports and information is being provided by the travel industry and FCO posts abroad. National legislation has been amended to make it easier for local authorities to act when illegally imported meat is found and the Food Standards Agency are encouraging local authorities to ensure that checks for illegal imports are part of their routine inspections of food premises. An improved system of sharing and analysing of information has been introduced to enable enforcement bodies to target action more effectively. We are also looking at other ways in which enforcement of import controls may be improved.

Waste Incineration

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce the amount of waste being disposed of by incineration; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Our priority is to meet the requirement of the Landfill Directive to divert biodegradable municipal waste away from landfill by maximising recycling and composting and minimising the need for incineration and landfill. In order to achieve this the Government have set tough statutory targets under best value for local authorities to double the amount of household waste recycled by 2003–04 and treble it by 2005–06, and will set further targets for later years.

Veterinary Medicinal Products

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on European Commission proposals to reclassify veterinary medicinal products as prescription only medicines.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 1 November 2001
	This proposal forms part of a much wider set of proposals produced by the European Commission to amend the procedures for the authorisation and control of both human and veterinary medicines in the EU. In considering the proposal the Government have taken account of its likely impact on the supply of veterinary medicines and have agreed that, during negotiations, UK officials should seek to modify the proposal to enable a flexible approach to the distribution of veterinary medicinal products that takes advantage of existing national practices, so long as consumer protection and animal welfare can be demonstrably assured.

Food Imports

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from the Food Standards Agency regarding the adequacy of food import controls; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Officials from my Department and the Food Standards Agency meet on a regular basis to discuss food import issues. There have been no representations from FSA to DEFRA other than these discussions.

Civil Servants

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants are employed in each area of her Department's responsibilities, and at what grades; and what the equivalent figures for the same responsibilities were prior to the establishment of DEFRA.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The information requested is given in the figures. The data are derived from different sources and this may lead to minor inconsistencies. The figures relate to people in post; they include staff employed to deal with foot and mouth disease and those who are in the process of transferring to the Rural Payments Agency. The figures are expressed as grade equivalents.
	
		
			  Core MAFF and DETR Central(7) Core DEFRA(8) 
		
		
			  Agriculture and Food 
			 SCS 12 12 
			 Grade 6 5 4 
			 Grade 7 47 45 
			 SEO 54 53 
			 HEO 177 177 
			 EO 145 139 
			 AO 99 88 
			 AA 64 59 
			  
			 Total 603 577 
			
			 Fisheries   
			 SCS 4 3 
			 Grade 6 1 1 
			 Grade 7 16 14 
			 SEO 17 16 
			 HEO 32 28 
			 EO 63 65 
			 AO 43 47 
			 AA 46 43 
			  
			 Total 222 217 
			
			  Environment, Rural and Regional Services 
			 SCS 40 42 
			 Grade 6 14 21 
			 Grade 7 138 154 
			 SEO 104 150 
			 HEO 325 768 
			 EO 792 885 
			 AO 1,365 1,437 
			 AA 650 618 
			  
			 Total 3,428 4,075 
			
			  Animal Health (including State Veterinary Service) 
			 SCS 22 24 
			 Grade 6 36 39 
			 Grade 7 54 57 
			 SEO 255 249 
			 HEO 109 127 
			 EO 435 682 
			 AO 794 1,151 
			 AA 516 585 
			  
			 Total 2,221 2,914 
			
			  Science Directorate 
			 SCS 3 4 
			 Grade 6 8 8 
			 Grade 7 11 12 
			 SEO 11 10 
			 HEO 17 15 
			 EO 22 22 
			 AO 26 25 
			 AA 10 5 
			  
			 Total 108 101 
			 European Union and International Policy 
			 SCS 3 4 
			 Grade 6 0 0 
			 Grade 7 9 6 
			 SEO 4 4 
			 HEO 7 7 
			 EO 16 14 
			 AO 9 11 
			 AA 10 11 
			  
			 Total 58 57 
			  Economics and Statistics 
			 SCS 4 4 
			 Grade 6 1 2 
			 Grade 7 18 18 
			 SEO 6 6 
			 HEO 34 35 
			 EO 47 41 
			 AO 62 58 
			 AA 14 11 
			  
			 Total 186 175 
			
			  Central Services 
			 SCS 27 38 
			 Grade 6 29 39 
			 Grade 7 91 97 
			 SEO 88 88 
			 HEO 149 184 
			 EO 164 179 
			 AO 277 307 
			 AA 189 201 
			  
			 Total 1,014 1,133 
			
			 E-Business Directive   
			 SCS 2 2 
			 Grade 6 2 3 
			 Grade 7 12 14 
			 SEO 52 48 
			 HEO 106 107 
			 EO 104 124 
			 AO 55 52 
			 AA 13 10 
			  
			 Total 346 360 
			
			  Communications Directorate 
			 SCS 1 2 
			 Grade 6 1 1 
			 Grade 7 5 5 
			 SEO 13 17 
			 HEO 22 26 
			 EO 19 21 
			 AO 18 28 
			 AA 6 6 
			  
			 Total 85 106 
			 Grand total 8,271 9,715 
		
	
	(7) At 1 April 2001
	(8) At 1 October 2001

Press Officers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed in her Department; and at what cost to public funds.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The DEFRA press office has a complement of 16 press officers. In the current financial year, the pay cost to date for the DEFRA press office is £433,239.
	The non-paying running costs (NPRCs) for the DEFRA press office for this financial year, are as follows; DEFRA press office NPRCs (ex-MAFF)—£260,171.

Flooding

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the insurance industry regarding flood cover on (a) private and (b) commercial properties.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Government keep in close touch with the insurance industry on these issues. Members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have previously said they will continue to provide flood cover, except in exceptional circumstances, for domestic properties and small businesses which they currently insure up to the end of 2002.
	My hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Under-Secretary my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), met the ABI on 5 September to discuss our mutual aim of ensuring that affordable flood insurance cover continues to be generally available beyond December 2002.

Flooding

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the Environment Agency regarding the funds available for work on flood defences.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Environment Agency has asked the Government to recognise and commit to meeting the need for a significant further increase in funding on a planned basis to (a) improve flood warnings and (b) maintain and improve the overall standard and extent of flood defence. This will be considered through the Spending Review 2002 process. Current plans are for this Department's spending on flood and coastal defences for all operating authorities to increase from last year's outturn of £66 million to £114 million in 2003–04.

Consultation Exercises

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many consultation exercises by her Department are in progress.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs currently has 28 consultation exercises in progress.

Pheasants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has of the number of pheasants (a) reared and (b) shot each year for (i) agricultural and (ii) sporting purposes since 1994;
	(2)  what percentage of pheasants released in each year from 1994 to date have been exported;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the number of pheasants released each year; of those, what estimate she has of those (i) shot but not captured and (ii) shot and captured; and in respect of the latter category, how many of these are (a) discarded and (b) eaten;
	(4)  how many people she estimates are employed in connection with pheasant-rearing and shooting; and what the estimated animal income of this sector is.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The Government do not hold such statistics.

British Waterways

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Board of British Waterways on the scope of its activities in relation to the Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Ministers met the Chairman of British Waterways together with the Chairman of the Environment Agency on 17 September to discuss the future of the Agency's navigation responsibilities in the light of the publication of the report of Stage 1 of the Environment Agency Financial Management and Policy Review. A decision will be announced shortly.

Council for Voluntary Services

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance she provides to support the Council for Voluntary Services. [R]

Alun Michael: holding answer 29 October 2001
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not provide any direct financial assistance to Councils for Voluntary Service or Councils for Voluntary Action. Individual Councils would be eligible to apply for support from the Rural Support Initiative Fund. This Fund, which is part of the joint Government and voluntary sector Rural Stress Action Plan, has supported local initiatives to help people in distress particularly as a result of Foot and Mouth Disease in recent months. We do provide financial support to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (£90,000 for the 2001–02 financial year) and Rural Community Councils (£2.984 million plus staff costs for a Community Development Worker for the 2001–02 financial year) via the Countryside Agency. The Rural Community Councils work closely with Councils for Voluntary Service in their area and concentrate on activity in rural communities.

Carbon Trust

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the (a) names of the board members appointed to the Carbon Trust in each case listing the sector or industry which they represent and (b) the date of the board's first meeting, its agenda and minutes.

Michael Meacher: The Carbon Trust is an independent not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, funded by the Government and the devolved Administrations. Members of the Carbon Trust Board are drawn from both the public and private sectors and cover a wide range of interest and skills relevant to the Trust's remit.
	The current membership is:
	Non-executives
	Ian McAllister—(Chairman), Chairman of Ford UK
	Ian Stephenson—(Deputy Chairman), Johnson Matthey
	Dinah Nichols, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Alistair Keddie, Department of Trade and Industry
	Diarmuid McLean, Northern Ireland Industrial Research and Technology Group
	John Brown, Scottish Executive
	David Pritchard, National Assembly for Wales
	Richard Brook, Leverhulme Trust
	John Edmonds, GMB
	Paul Jefferiss, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
	Peter Lehmann, Energy Saving Trust
	Chris Mottershead, BP
	Michael Roberts, Confederation of British Industry
	John Speirs, Norsk Hydro UK
	Gordon Waters, United Utilities
	Executives
	Tom Delay, the Carbon Trust, Chief Executive
	Rosemary Boot, the Carbon Trust, Finance Director.
	The first Board meeting was held on 13 July 2001. Publication of Board papers is a matter for the Carbon Trust Board. However, I understand that the Carbon Trust's strategic framework will be published shortly for public consultation.

Water Companies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  under what powers the Ofwat Regulator can (a) compel water companies to install meters at the request of tenants, (b) make water companies notify tenants of any changes to their water charge tariffs and (c) intervene where a tenant feels that the tariff being levied is too high;
	(2)  under what powers water companies are required to (a) advertise changes in tariffs to (i) residents and (ii) tenants and (b) inform (i) residents and (ii) tenants of such changes;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the procedure for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants other than through the Regulator.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Under section 142 and 143 of the Water Industry Act 1991, as amended by sections 3 and 4 of the Water Industry Act 1999, water companies have no power to charge for services to a dwelling except in accordance with a charges scheme approved by the Director General of Water Services (Ofwat). Under Condition D of the terms of their appointments as statutory undertakers under the Water Industry Act, companies must make their charges schemes available to anyone on request but there is no requirement to advertise tariffs or changes in tariffs. Companies communicate with their customers about tariffs when sending out bills. Ofwat also publishes information each year about changes in average bills and detailed tariffs for each company.
	Disputes as to the water charges payable by a customer to the water company may be made to Ofwat. There is no distinction in this procedure between customers who are tenants and others.
	Under sections 144A and 209A of the Water Industry Act 1991 as amended by sections 6 and 11 of the Water Industry Act 1999, the right to a measured water charge, and therefore to a water meter free of initial cost, is available to all household water company customers irrespective of tenure except for tenancies of less than six months. The terms of a tenancy may not prevent a tenant from requesting the installation of a meter or require any consent from the landlord. Companies are required to fit a meter on request except where it would not be reasonably practicable or would incur unreasonable expense. Any dispute may be determined by Ofwat. Water companies have no involvement or statutory duties as to the charges made by landlords to tenants who are not water company customers, nor is there any statutory duty on landlords to charge tenants on a measured basis.
	Sometimes the landlord is the customer liable to pay charges to the water company. The charges set by such a landlord to tenants are service charges that are in the first place a matter between landlord and tenant. Ofwat has made the Water Resale Order 2001, under section 150 of the Water Industry Act, limiting the charges that may be made for reselling water or sewerage services provided originally by a water company. Ofwat can advise but has no powers to determine disputes between landlords and tenants.

Litter

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to encourage a reduction of litter in London.

Michael Meacher: The Department funds the Tidy Britain Group (TBG) who work closely with the London local authorities to improve local environmental quality. The Government's Pathfinder initiative announced in March is providing £1 million for 50 local authority schemes to promote local environmental quality including reduction in litter. Four of the approved schemes are in London, in Ealing, Lambeth, Lewisham and Newham. In addition Bexley and Wandsworth councils are working with TBG on an educational project, Eco-Schools. This allows schools to carry out an environmental audit, with tackling litter problems a key part. Under the TBG's People and Places programme, TBG officers are working with a third of London's local authorities to survey the amount of litter on the streets and provide advice on how to improve street cleansing.
	Thames21 is a partnership project sponsored by TBG which is designed to improve the environment of the River Thames and its tributaries. This programme is actively supported by two thirds of the local authorities in London who make a voluntary contribution to the work.

Combined Heat and Power

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish a combined heat and power strategy.

Michael Meacher: We will be issuing a draft Government strategy for consultation by the end of this year.

Combined Heat and Power

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps she plans to take to ensure that 10 GW can be generated by combined heat and power by 2010.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 29 October 2001
	The Department is developing, in close collaboration with DTI and other Departments, a draft CHP strategy, which will set out the measures needed to achieve the Government's target of at least 10,000 MW of installed CHP electrical capacity by 2010. Our timetable for issuing the draft strategy for consultation is by the end of this year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

SEN Tribunals

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases were referred to SEN tribunals in each local education authority in England in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; what proportion they represent of the school age population of each authority; and how many appeals were (i) upheld or partially upheld, (ii) withdrawn and (iii) turned down.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 November 2001
	Tables showing the number of appeals referred to the special educational needs tribunal by local education authority in each of the three years for which information is requested, the number decided, the number withdrawn and the proportion they represent of the school age population, have been placed in the Library. The tribunal does not collect information about the outcome of appeals in the format requested. However, information about the number of appeals upheld or partially upheld is available at the national level, and has been placed in the Library. A case is listed as "upheld" when any of the points at issue are decided in the parents' favour. Over the last three years, the percentage of decisions where the appeal is upheld has increased from 75 per cent. to 79 per cent.

AS-level Examination

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to abolish the AS level examination; what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of the AS level examination on pupils' involvement in non-curricular school activities; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: None. The Government remain committed to the principles behind the Curriculum 2000 reforms, including the AS award. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's phase 1 report on the review of Curriculum 2000 included an assessment of the impact of the introduction of the AS-level examinations on enrichment activities. This concluded that student participation in extra-curricular activities has been reduced in some, but by no means all, institutions. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

Healthy Lifestyles

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives her Department aims at children of school age to promote healthy lifestyles and positive activities not involving drugs and other substance misuse.

Stephen Timms: We recognise how important it is for young people to be made aware of the positive effects that a healthy, active lifestyle and a nutritious diet can have on their life chances. We are the first Government to introduce a non-statutory framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE) across all four key stages.
	Together with the Department of Health, our commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles through positive activities is clear from the "healthy schools" and "food in schools" programmes. The national healthy school standard, the mainstay of the "healthy schools" programme, helps to set the context for schools when developing policies in areas such as healthy eating and physical activity. "Food in schools" brings together all food-related initiatives in schools to improve young people's health and learning. Our recent White Paper, "Schools: Achieving Success", highlighted our commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles among young people.

Special Schools

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision is made for disability issues and education in the legislation governing residential special schools.

Stephen Timms: The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, which comes into force in September 2002, will ensure that pupils in all schools receive protection from unfair discrimination. This Act will make it unlawful for education providers to discriminate against disabled pupils and prospective pupils by treating them less favourably on the grounds of their disability or by failing to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage. These provisions apply to admission to the school, the education and other associated services offered and provided to pupils by the school, and exclusion from the school.
	Under the Care Standards Act 2000, residential special schools will be obliged to ensure that residential, care and teaching staff work together to identify means of encouraging each child's personal, social, and educational development and achievement.
	Through both the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and the Care Standards Act 2000 the Government are actively promoting welfare, safety, and quality educational provision for children in residential special schools.

IT Staff

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many IT teaching posts in higher education were unfilled in 2000;
	(2)  what recent studies she has carried out into the shortage of IT staff in higher education; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions she has had in 2001 on the shortage of IT staff in higher education institutions; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not held centrally. Individual universities and colleges, as employers, are responsible for monitoring their own vacancies. However, surveys commissioned by the funding councils and representative bodies to follow up the Bett report suggested that while there were no generalised problems of recruitment or retention, there were specific issues in recruiting to some subjects where there was competition for qualified staff in the economy, including information and communication technology. The Government have made available additional funding for higher education pay over three years, rising to £170 million in 2003–04. In exchange, all institutions have provided the Higher Education Funding Council for England with a human resources strategy which sets out the issues they have to address and how they will be resolved.

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the age participation rate in (a) higher education and (b) first degree course for each year since 1980.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 October 2001
	It is not possible to desegregate a separate participation rate for first degree undergraduates only.
	The available information, showing the proportion of under-21-year-olds who enter higher education, is shown in the following table. There was an increase in entrant numbers in 1997–98, related partly to changes in the funding arrangements for higher education, with students choosing to enter HE rather than wait until 1998–99. There was a corresponding reduction in 1998–99 before the entry rates started to increase again in 1999–2000. Between 1996–97 and 2000–01, the total of HE students in English universities and colleges rose by 118,000.
	Latest figures show that total acceptances to HE courses in autumn 2001 rose by 5.6 per cent. 1
	1 The API is defined as the number of home domiciled initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate HE aged under 21, expressed as a percentage of the average number of 18 and 19 year olds in the population.
	
		Age participation index (API), Great Britain
		
			 Year of entry Percentage 
		
		
			 1980 13 
			 1981 13 
			 1982 13 
			 1983 13 
			 1984 14 
			 1985 14 
			 1986 14 
			 1987 15 
			 1988 15 
			 1989 17 
			 1990 19 
			 1991 23 
			 1992 28 
			 1993 30 
			 1994 32 
			 1995 32 
			 1996 33 
			 1997 33 
			 1998 31 
			 1999 32 
			 2000(9) 32–34 
		
	
	(9) Projected: final data on initial entrants are not yet available.
	Source:
	UCAS

Northamptonshire (Local Initiatives)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual expenditure by her Department was on centrally financed local initiatives in (a) Northamptonshire, (b) Northampton borough and (c) Northampton, South constituency for each of the last six years.

Stephen Timms: The following table shows the Department's allocated grants to Northamptonshire local education authority for each year since 1996–97.
	
		£ 
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000  2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Standards fund 2,100,980 2,689,725 3,501,381 9,490,717 13,824,907 16,640,731 
			 Teachers pay reforms — — — — 3,317,167 (10)— 
			 Nursery education — 7,186,176 1,363,615 1,496,492 2,220,779 (10)— 
			 Early years development and childcare partnership (EYDCP) — — 123,000 506,300 789,810 (11)1,466,762 
			 Transitional insurance (former GM schools) — — — 40,407 21,039 597 
			 School standards — — — — 4,355,000 9,071,000 
			 School budget support — — — — 655,000 — 
			 Education budget support — — — — — 100,000 
			 Statutory education action zones — — — — 772,000 815,000 
			 Capital 7,389,000 8,455,000 13,059,000 10,925,000 24,531,000 (10)— 
		
	
	(10) Not finalised.
	(11) Northamptonshire EYDCP has also been allocated £1,486,110 revenue funding and £634,440 capital funding in 2001–04 for the Neighbourhood Nurseries initiative for Northamptonshire. It will be up to the EYDCP to decide the breakdown between years.
	Figures for the amount of grants spent in an individual constituency or borough cannot be provided.

Northamptonshire (School Places)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent steps her Department has taken to assist Northamptonshire local education authority in increasing the provision of school places in Northampton to match (a) current needs and (b) future requirements generated by new housing developments; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government believe that decisions concerning the supply of school places are best taken locally—by the main partners in the provision of education who have knowledge of local needs. Local education authorities have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient school places in their area. They must publish annually a school organisation plan which sets out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of school places over a rolling five-year period.
	Where an LEA can demonstrate overall growth in the need for school places, it may apply to the Department for capital funding. I am aware of proposals for change in Northampton and officials are in regular contact with the LEA regarding this.

Northamptonshire (Class Sizes)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children aged (a) five, (b) six and (c) seven are taught in classes of over 30 in schools in Northampton; and what were the figures in 1997.

Stephen Timms: The available information is shown in the table. This information has been collected only since January 1998.
	
		Percentage of pupils in classes of over 30 taught by one teacher in mainland primary schools(12),(13)
		
			 Year January 2001 January 1998 
		
		
			 Northampton LEA   
			 Reception(14) 0.0 17.5 
			 Group 1(14) 5.5 27.1 
			 Group 2(14) 5.7 32.8 
			 England   
			 Reception(14) 1.8 23.2 
			 Group 1(14) 1.3 32.7 
			 Group 2(14) 4.0 35.7 
		
	
	(12) Classes as taught during a selected period in each school on the day of the census in January
	(13) Excludes middle schools
	(14) Pupils in reception classes will reach the age of 5 during the academic year and pupils in Years 1 and 2 will reach the ages of 6 and 7 respectively during the academic year.

School Autonomy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria she will use to assess if a school should be given greater autonomy.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 October 2001
	A combination of inspection evidence, performance data and a record of effective leadership will be used to decide those schools that should be eligible for greater freedom. The precise criteria will be developed in discussion with Ofsted.

Faith Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the criteria by which faith schools are determined to be inclusive.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The White Paper, "Schools: Achieving Success" said that we want faith schools that come into the maintained sector to add to the inclusiveness and diversity of the school system and to be ready to work with schools of other faiths and those that do not have a religious character. We welcomed the recommendation in Lord Dearing's report to the Archbishops Council that Church of England schools should serve the whole community, not confining admission to Anglicans. We have not published criteria for inclusiveness.

Schools (Administrative Burdens)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she has taken to reduce the administrative burdens on (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: My Department keeps administrative requirements on all schools under continuous review. We have taken a number of actions to reduce the burdens on schools—for example, we have simplified the standards fund by replacing all bidding, claiming and reporting paperwork with a single expenditure returns sheet; and by allowing schools to switch funds between grant headings and carry them over to the end of the school year.
	From April 2001, £240 million over three years is being made available in a single small schools fund to provide extra funding for small schools to meet proportionately higher administrative costs; and also to encourage the development of collaborative approaches to reducing burdens, such as shared ICT technicians.
	In the school year 2000–01, we exceeded our target of reducing by half the number of pages sent to schools by the Department. We continue actively to screen all mailings to schools.
	We recognise that there is more to be done. The White Paper commits the Government to making teaching a more manageable profession. The PricewaterhouseCoopers study of teacher workload, expected at the end of November, will put forward further practical ways of addressing workload issues.

Performance-related Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to give headteachers greater control over the allocation of performance related pay in their own schools; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government set the overall performance pay structure and provides funding to support the award of extra pay points, but it is for each school to determine its own performance pay policy and apply this when taking decisions affecting individual teachers.

Powers and Funding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to decentralise powers and funding from (a) national Government to local government and (b) local education authorities to schools; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The White Paper, "Schools: Achieving Success", sets out the Government's agenda for transforming secondary education in England, including increased autonomy for successful schools.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will shortly be publishing a White Paper on the role of local government. It will cover, among other things, our plans to reform the local government finance system, including ensuring that schools receive a fair share of the funding provided by central government to local education authorities.

A-level Examinations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of A-level examination papers have been graded at grade A for each of the last 20 years; how many A-level examinations have been entered in each of these years; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The proportion of GCE A-level examinations that resulted in a grade A over the last 20 years in England, together with the number of examinations in those years, are shown as follows. Corresponding figures are not available for the intervening years 1986 to 1990.
	
		
			  Proportion of examination papers resulting in A grades (percentage)  Total number of examinations 
		
		
			 1980 8.8 567,027 
			 1981 9.2 588,249 
			 1982 8.9 614,153 
			 1983 9.4 632,127 
			 1984 9.6 627,669 
			 1985 9.8 609,215 
			
			 1991 11.5 635,093 
			 1992 12.6 669,584 
			 1993 13.4 677,093 
			 1994 14.3 675,572 
			 1995 15.4 668,941 
			 1996 15.7 677,295 
			 1997 15.7 713,569 
			 1998 16.8 724,852 
			 1999 17.4 720,304 
			 2000 17.6 709,580

A-level Examinations

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average points score at A-level was for (a) pupils educated in local authorities which retain grammar schools, (b) pupils educated in local authorities which have no grammar schools and (c) the country as a whole, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The average GCE A-level point score of pupils aged 16 to 18 in maintained schools in England in 1999–2000 was (a) 17.8 for pupils educated in local authorities which retain grammar schools, (b) 15.9 for pupils educated in local authorities which have no grammar schools and (c) 16.6 for pupils in all maintained schools. The overall figure for all schools in England, including independent schools, was 17.9.

Illiteracy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how may school children in England are judged to be illiterate in each age cohort; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Early statistics for this year show that 99 per cent. of 15-year-olds (549,450 pupils) achieved a GCSE pass in English. Literacy standards are also rising in primary schools; this year 75 per cent. of 11-year-olds (474,000 pupils) achieved the expected standard for their age in the key stage 2 English tests, an increase of 10 per cent. points since 1998.

Failing Schools (Private Firms)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the statutory provisions that prevent private firms taking over the running of failing schools.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Section 38 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 provides for the conduct of a maintained school to be under the direction of the school's governing body.

Curriculum

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to allow 12 to 13-year-old pupils to drop history and geography as part of the curriculum.

Stephen Timms: The last national curriculum review reaffirmed the position of history and geography as statutory subjects for all key stage three pupils. History fires pupils' curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Geography provokes and answers questions about the natural and human worlds, developing pupils' knowledge of places and environments throughout the world.
	A major focus of our drive to raise standards for pupils in the first years of secondary school is the key stage 3 strategy. This will eventually impact across all subjects in the curriculum, including history and geography, through the programme for teaching and learning in the foundation subjects, which we are currently piloting.

School Cleanliness

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to monitor the cleanliness of schools.

Stephen Timms: Cleanliness in schools is a matter for local education authorities and governing bodies, as they have duties as employers to ensure that school premises meet health and safety requirements.

Free School Meals

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in each LEA how many and what proportion of secondary school pupils received free school meals; how many pupils received free school meals and what proportion of the intake this represents at each specialist school within the LEA, at the latest date for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: Information showing free school meals data for specialist and other secondary schools by local education authority is contained in the table.
	
		Number of pupils eligible for free school meals in specialist secondary schools and other maintained secondary schools, January 2001, by Government office region
		
			  Specialist secondary schools Other maintained secondary schools  
			  Number of schools Number of day pupils Number of pupils eligible for FSM Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM Number of schools Number of day pupils Number of pupils eligible for FSM Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM 
		
		
			 England 676 769,973 112,865 14.7 2,805 2,457,000 396,811 16.2 
			  
			 North East 
			 Hartlepool 2 2,409 476 19.8 4 4,270 1,250 29.3 
			 Middlesbrough 2 2,119 753 35.5 9 6,453 2,317 35.9 
			 Redcar and Cleveland(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 4 5,070 674 13.3 9 7,723 1,883 24.4 
			 Darlington 3 2,953 368 12.5 4 3,056 581 19.0 
			 Durham 13 13,116 2,075 15.8 23 19,042 3,687 19.4 
			 Northumberland 8 8,014 766 9.6 52 22,464 2,927 13.0 
			 Gateshead 5 7,025 930 13.2 5 5,018 1,676 33.4 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 7 10,140 2,196 21.7 14 7,931 2,377 30.0 
			 North Tyneside 4 3,521 831 23.6 16 10,653 1,667 15.6 
			 South Tyneside 2 2,680 527 19.7 9 7,828 2,008 25.7 
			 Sunderland 4 4,823 1,046 21.7 13 15,014 4,910 32.7 
			  
			 North West 
			 Halton 2 2,017 396 19.6 7 6,671 1,687 25.3 
			 Warrington 3 4,192 316 7.5 9 9,641 1,084 11.2 
			 Cheshire 6 5,654 671 11.9 39 40,585 3,934 9.7 
			 Cumbria 9 8,533 1,133 13.3 33 25,134 3,034 12.1 
			 Bolton 4 5,363 321 6.0 12 13,782 2,652 19.2 
			 Bury 0 0 0 0.0 14 11,731 1,754 15.0 
			 Manchester 7 8,229 3,110 37.8 16 15,248 7,176 47.1 
			 Oldham 2 2,398 671 28.0 13 14,427 3,022 20.9 
			 Rochdale 4 4,583 1,054 23.0 10 9,571 2,511 26.2 
			 Salford 2 1,874 169 9.0 14 10,650 3,040 28.5 
			 Stockport 2 2,791 469 16.8 12 13,784 1,856 13.5 
			 Tameside 2 2,357 593 25.2 16 13,011 2,503 19.2 
			 Trafford 5 5,000 1,161 23.2 13 10,846 1,280 11.8 
			 Wigan 7 7,716 910 11.8 14 13,139 2,146 16.3 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2 2,143 448 20.9 7 7,358 2,021 27.5 
			 Blackpool 2 2,204 397 18.0 6 5,620 1,324 23.6 
			 Lancashire 17 16,642 1,350 8.1 72 58,172 9,832 16.9 
			 Knowsley 3 3,160 1,226 38.8 8 7,080 3,386 47.8 
			 Liverpool 9 10,775 2,781 25.8 24 22,701 9,282 40.9 
			 St. Helens 3 4,167 649 15.6 9 7,992 1,682 21.0 
			 Sefton 3 3,893 493 12.7 19 16,783 3,600 21.5 
			 Wirral 5 5,759 1,452 25.2 18 18,422 5,004 27.2 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 5 7,333 527 7.2 13 15,294 1,416 9.3 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 3 4,446 807 18.2 13 11,566 3,517 30.4 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3 3,264 850 26.0 9 8,471 1,571 18.5 
			 North Lincolnshire 3 2,933 428 14.6 11 7,716 1,007 13.1 
			 York 4 4,929 295 6.0 7 5,045 592 11.7 
			 North Yorkshire 8 8,703 445 5.1 39 31,513 2,134 6.8 
			 Barnsley(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Doncaster 0 0 0 0.0 17 21,378 3,829 17.9 
			 Rotherham 4 4,910 648 13.2 13 14,935 2,497 16.7 
			 Sheffield 8 9,596 1,371 14.3 19 20,265 4,603 22.7 
			 Bradford 8 12,539 2,869 22.9 19 21,675 6,291 29.0 
			 Calderdale(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Kirklees 6 6,073 921 15.2 26 20,242 3,823 18.9 
			 Leeds 8 9,799 1,444 14.7 35 37,369 7,038 18.8 
			 Wakefield 5 6,758 1,283 19.0 13 14,521 2,336 16.1 
			  
			 East Midlands 
			 Derby 3 3,739 458 12.2 11 11,009 2,518 22.9 
			 Derbyshire 10 11,201 869 7.8 37 36,627 4,240 11.6 
			 Leicester 5 5,436 1,389 25.6 11 12,598 2,638 20.9 
			 Rutland(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire 9 12,977 822 6.3 45 31,682 2,259 7.1 
			 Lincolnshire 15 14,151 1,089 7.7 48 29,842 2,606 8.7 
			 Northamptonshire 12 14,933 909 6.1 48 34,259 4,376 12.8 
			 Nottingham 2 2,115 690 32.6 18 11,795 4,478 38.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 4 5,927 830 14.0 54 49,053 6,148 12.5 
			 West Midlands 
			 Herefordshire 2 2,032 99 4.9 12 7,792 680 8.7 
			 Worcestershire 7 7,638 801 10.5 54 32,670 3,339 10.2 
			 Telford and Wrekin 2 1,521 204 13.4 111 8,657 1,829 21.1 
			 Shropshire 4 4,075 288 7.1 18 13,531 1,134 8.4 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 3 2,870 623 21.7 14 11,962 2,980 24.9 
			 Staffordshire 4 5,348 478 8.9 65 55,586 5,147 9.3 
			 Warwickshire 5 5,108 427 8.4 32 27,550 2,066 7.5 
			 Birmingham 26 25,401 8,061 31.7 51 43,638 14,826 34.0 
			 Coventry 4 5,091 1,074 21.1 15 15,872 3,149 19.8 
			 Dudley(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Sandwell 3 3,240 1,052 32.5 17 16,292 3,688 22.6 
			 Solihull 2 2,398 60 2.5 11 13,188 1,815 13.8 
			 Walsall 3 3,476 682 19.6 17 17,908 2,991 16.7 
			 Wolverhampton 5 4,695 768 16.4 13 11,846 2,942 24.8 
			  
			 East of England 
			 Luton 2 2,449 367 15.0 10 9,628 2,884 30.0 
			 Bedfordshire(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Peterborough 2 2,583 372 14.4 11 10,378 1,899 18.3 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 10,629 719 6.8 21 20,394 1,706 8.4 
			 Southend-on-Sea 3 2,840 367 12.9 9 8,527 1,122 13.2 
			 Thurrock(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex 19 24,000 2,336 9.7 60 62,251 6,265 10.1 
			 Hertfordshire 11 10,956 522 4.8 75 64,868 5,083 7.8 
			 Norfolk 12 13,198 1,343 10.2 40 31,185 3,416 11.0 
			 Suffolk 12 12,538 1,053 8.4 66 40,495 4,513 11.1 
			 London 
			 Inner London 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 
			 Camden 4 4,545 1,254 27.6 6 6,325 1,883 29.8 
			 Hackney 5 4,411 2,061 46.7 4 3,510 1,453 41.4 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Haringey(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Islington 2 1,815 904 49.8 7 5,768 2,557 44.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 0 0.0 4 3,665 1,164 31.8 
			 Lambeth 3 2,398 940 39.2 7 4,815 2,071 43.0 
			 Lewisham 0 0 0 0.0 13 11,661 4,621 39.6 
			 Newham 5 6,667 2,662 39.9 10 10,802 5,177 47.9 
			 Southwark 2 1,844 1,029 55.8 11 8,377 4,372 52.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 4 4,050 3,005 74.2 11 10,037 6,168 61.5 
			 Wandsworth 5 6,397 1,601 25.0 4 3,551 1,069 30.1 
			 Westminster 2 1,777 556 31.3 6 6,244 2,079 33.3 
			  
			 Outer London 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 3,709 746 20.1 5 7,370 2,133 28.9 
			 Barnet 3 3,502 623 17.8 18 17,571 2,682 15.3 
			 Bexley(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Brent 4 3,848 856 22.2 9 10,632 2,698 25.4 
			 Bromley 5 6,274 589 9.4 12 14,964 1,915 12.8 
			 Croydon(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Ealing 5 6,164 1,756 28.5 8 7,776 2,599 33.4 
			 Enfield 0 0 0 0.0 17 20,530 4,172 20.3 
			 Greenwich 5 5,767 2,125 36.8 9 8,067 2,521 31.3 
			 Harrow 0 0 0 0.0 10 8,874 1,556 17.5 
			 Havering 2 2,068 239 11.6 16 13,836 1,527 11.0 
			 Hillingdon 3 3,869 356 9.2 14 12,603 2,084 16.5 
			 Hounslow 2 2,526 371 14.7 12 13,766 2,842 20.6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0 0 0.0 10 8,639 790 9.1 
			 Merton 0 0 0 0.0 11 7,754 1,262 16.3 
			 Redbridge 5 6,301 1,318 20.9 11 12,567 1,547 12.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 0 0.0 8 7,531 1,180 15.7 
			 Sutton(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Waltham Forest 3 2,997 514 17.2 13 9,983 3,373 33.8 
			   
			 South East 
			 Bracknell Forest 0 0 0 0.0 6 6,022 289 4.8 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 0 0 0.0 13 10,207 573 5.6 
			 West Berkshire 6 7,037 391 5.6 4 4,710 165 3.5 
			 Reading(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Slough 2 1,483 285 19.2 9 6,442 945 14.7 
			 Wokingham 2 2,190 61 2.8 7 8,568 448 5.2 
			 Milton Keynes 4 4,465 466 10.4 7 7,593 972 12.8 
			 Buckinghamshire 9 9,165 314 3.4 25 24,051 1,900 7.9 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 2,872 385 13.4 8 9,154 1,727 18.9 
			 East Sussex 7 8,687 1,010 11.6 19 19,120 2,625 13.7 
			 Portsmouth(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Southampton 0 0 0 0.0 14 12,235 2,110 17.2 
			 Hampshire 7 8,633 456 5.3 64 61,931 4,172 6.7 
			 Isle of Wight 2 2,356 317 13.5 19 9,564 1,672 17.5 
			 Kent 13 13,541 1,108 8.2 92 79,451 8,001 10.1 
			 Medway 4 4,363 333 7.6 16 15,474 1,617 10.4 
			 Oxfordshire 8 10,697 798 7.5 37 27,574 2,843 10.3 
			 Surrey 12 15,901 661 4.2 41 40,323 2,788 6.9 
			 West Sussex 8 11,486 493 4.3 31 31,332 2,469 7.9 
			  
			 South West 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 5 5,219 339 6.5 8 7,054 630 8.9 
			 Bristol, City of 3 3,082 489 15.9 17 14,825 3,180 21.5 
			 North Somerset 5 5,891 547 9.3 5 6,378 411 6.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 3 4,474 278 6.2 11 11,968 960 8.0 
			 Cornwall 12 13,683 1,637 12.0 19 18,318 2,268 12.4 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0.0 1 95 6 6.3 
			 Torbay(15) — — — — — — — — 
			 Plymouth 6 6,786 1,135 16.7 12 12,043 1,494 12.4 
			 Devon 6 9,010 777 8.6 31 30,793 3,290 10.7 
			 Bournemouth 3 3,802 269 7.1 7 5,968 774 13.0 
			 Poole 2 2,321 109 4.7 7 5,876 483 8.2 
			 Dorset 7 7,409 489 6.6 30 21,836 1,318 6.0 
			 Gloucestershire 13 13,729 792 5.8 29 24,436 1,883 7.7 
			 Somerset 8 6,966 585 8.4 31 23,821 2,188 9.2 
			 Swindon 2 2,358 358 15.2 8 9,203 726 7.9 
			 Wiltshire 9 9,571 685 7.2 25 18,460 1,143 6.2 
		
	
	(15) These local education authorities only have one specialist school. It is departmental policy not to release individual school level information unless the school has had the opportunity to check or confirm that information. Schools have not had the opportunity to check their free school meals data.

GCSE Passes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils attained five or more GCSE passes at grades A-C, by social class, in (a) grammar schools and (b) comprehensive schools in each of the past five years.

Ivan Lewis: The primary source of information on GCSE attainment broken down by school type and personal characteristics is the youth cohort study (YCS). The YCS is run in alternate years; estimates for the proportion who gained five or more A*-C grades at GCSE in 1995, 1997 and 1999 are provided in the table.
	
		Percentage 
		
			 Schools Non manual background Manual background 
		
		
			 1995   
			 Grammar 94 87 
			 Comprehensive 59 33 
			 1997   
			 Grammar 95 92 
			 Comprehensive 60 34 
			 1999   
			 Grammar (16)— (16)— 
			 Comprehensive 60 39 
		
	
	(16) Figures for Grammar schools in 1999 are not available
	These estimates include schools in England and Wales only, and exclude independent and modern schools.

Nuclear Engineering Degrees

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list those universities offering a course in nuclear engineering; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: No universities currently offer an undergraduate course specifically in nuclear engineering. However, a report by the Health and Safety Executive/ Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in October 2000, "Nuclear Education and Research in British Universities", listed eight higher education institutions (HEIs) offering undergraduate courses with nuclear engineering modules. Those were:
	University of Birmingham
	University of Cambridge
	City University
	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
	University of Liverpool
	University of Manchester
	University of Plymouth
	University of Sheffield.
	The following 12 institutions offered masters courses relevant to nuclear education:
	University of Birmingham
	City University
	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
	University of Liverpool
	Loughborough University
	Middlesex University
	University of Plymouth
	Queen Mary and Westfield College, London
	Royal Navy School of Marine and Air Engineering, HMS Sultan (Department of Nuclear Science and Technology)
	University of Surrey
	University of Wales, Swansea
	University College London.
	The HSE/NII report is expected to be updated during the second half of 2002.

Schools (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills over what transitional period the new funding formula for Worcestershire schools will be phased in; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 1 November 2001
	We are continuing to work on the new funding system with external partners: no decisions have been made on the period over which the new system will need to be phased in.

Teachers (Ethnic Minorities)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers from ethnic minorities have entered the profession in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: This information is not collected centrally.

Literacy and Numeracy

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities had agreed new targets in literacy and numeracy for 11-year-olds by 26 October; and what the targets were in each case.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The new 2004 targets for literacy and numeracy will be agreed as part of the education development plan approval process in the early part of next year.

Three-year-olds

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places were provided for three-year-olds in each local education authority in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 (i) in LEA-funded settings, (ii) in Government-funded settings and (iii) in other settings; and how many were taken up in each category.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The available information on the numbers of three-year-olds in free early years education places in each local education authority area is shown in the following table. The table shows the numbers of three-year-olds taking up: 1. Local education authority funded places; 2. Places funded directly by Government in the private, voluntary and independent sectors including places in settings run by the local authority rather than the local education authority, e.g. social services.
	
		Number of three-year-olds taking up free early years education places, England, Government Office regions and each local education authority area 2000–01—Position in January each year
		
			  2000 2001  
			 LEA name Maintained(17) Private, voluntary and independent providers and other LA provisions(18) All Maintained(17) Private, voluntary and independent providers and other LA provision(18) All 
		
		
			 England 229,883 40,309 270,192 226,634 108,813 335,447 
			
			 North East 22,337 2,245 24,582 21,871 3,288 25,159 
			 Darlington 975 0 975 919 49 968 
			 Durham(19) 3,845 331 4,176 3,850 612 4,462 
			 Gateshead(19) 1,412 562 1,974 1,342 593 1,935 
			 Hartlepool(19) 1,063 36 1,099 961 34 995 
			 Middlesbrough(19) 1,727 53 1,780 1,849 115 1,964 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne(19) 1,757 715 2,472 1,773 857 2,630 
			 North Tyneside(19) 1,793 54 1,847 1,767 232 1,999 
			 Northumberland 2,118 0 2,118 2,139 136 2,275 
			 Redcar and Cleveland(19) 1,795 2 1,797 1,601 14 1,615 
			 South Tyneside(19) 1,391 81 1,472 1,450 143 1,593 
			 Stockton-on-Tees(19) 1,911 67 1,978 1,813 100 1,913 
			 Sunderland(19) 2,550 344 2,894 2,407 404 2,811 
			   
			 North West 41,335 9,156 50,491 39,566 20,727 60,293 
			 Blackburn with Darwen(19) 1,041 381 1,422 966 679 1,645 
			 Blackpool(19) 323 1,271 1,594 314 1,075 1,389 
			 Bolton(19) 2,155 796 2,951 2,088 926 3,014 
			 Bury 1,045 0 1,045 1,046 91 1,137 
			 Cheshire 2,246 0 2,246 2,172 783 2,955 
			 Cumbria 2,418 0 2,418 2,410 1,138 3,548 
			 Halton(19) 623 565 1,188 542 577 1,119 
			 Knowsley(19) 2,066 73 2,139 1,847 133 1,980 
			 Lancashire 4,253 0 4,253 4,199 5,155 9,354 
			 Liverpool(19) 3,890 1,297 5,187 3,648 1,310 4,958 
			 Manchester(19) 4,078 522 4,600 3,890 713 4,603 
			 Oldham(19) 1,525 846 2,371 1,507 1,048 2,555 
			 Rochdale(19) 1,387 885 2,272 1,287 966 2,253 
			 Salford(19) 2,047 147 2,194 1,836 247 2,083 
			 Sefton(19) 2,078 289 2,367 2,103 778 2,881 
			 St. Helens(19) 1,102 362 1,464 1,084 495 1,579 
			 Stockport 1,625 0 1,625 1,703 87 1,790 
			 Tameside(19) 1,646 516 2,162 1,580 581 2,161 
			 Trafford 1,580 0 1,580 1,497 196 1,693 
			 Warrington 963 0 963 889 1,099 1,988 
			 Wigan 1,513 0 1,513 1,358 1,194 2,552 
			 Wirral(19) 1,731 1,206 2,937 1,600 1,455 3,055 
			
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 32,541 7,204 39,745 31,804 15,222 47,026 
			 Barnsley(19) 1,404 226 1,630 1,356 529 1,885 
			 Bradford(19) 4,747 805 5,552 4,520 1,197 5,717 
			 Calderdale 1,305 0 1,305 1,184 666 1,850 
			 Doncaster(19) 2,219 110 2,329 2,249 161 2,410 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,033 0 1,033 1,024 138 1,162 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull, City of(19) 2,111 460 2,571 2,036 517 2,553 
			 Kirklees(19) 2,618 407 3,025 2,489 1,488 3,977 
			 Leeds(19) 5,874 1,779 7,653 5,642 1,786 7,428 
			 North East Lincolnshire(19) 998 521 1,519 933 554 1,487 
			 North Lincolnshire 585 0 585 637 536 1,173 
			 North Yorkshire 1,796 0 1,796 1,705 3,218 4,923 
			 Rotherham(19) 1,447 724 2,171 1,364 875 2,239 
			 Sheffield(19) 2,932 1,815 4,747 3,372 2,030 5,402 
			 Wakefield(19) 2,684 358 3,042 2,592 611 3,203 
			 York(19) 788 0 788 701 916 1,617 
			
			 East Midlands 19,896 1,621 21,517 19,103 8,321 27,424 
			 Derby 1,934 0 1,934 1,845 859 2,704 
			 Derbyshire 4,243 0 4,243 4,016 3,099 7,115 
			 Leicester(19) 2,335 964 3,299 2,146 1,112 3,258 
			 Leicestershire 87 0 87 129 639 768 
			 Lincolnshire 1,785 0 1,785 1,749 41 1,790 
			 Northamptonshire 2,299 0 2,299 2,294 835 3,129 
			 Nottingham(19) 2,653 657 3,310 2,509 700 3,209 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,461 0 4,461 4,328 1,008 5,336 
			 Rutland 99 0 99 87 30 117 
			
			 West Midlands 30,935 5,188 36,123 30,441 9,450 39,891 
			 Birmingham(19) 7,294 3,275 10,569 7,200 3,844 11,044 
			 Coventry(19) 1,976 957 2,933 1,984 1,031 3,015 
			 Dudley 2,227 0 2,227 2,336 738 3,074 
			 Herefordshire 340 0 340 336 115 451 
			 Sandwell(19) 3,217 21 3,238 3,059 100 3,159 
			 Shropshire 424 0 424 499 309 808 
			 Solihull 1,542 0 1,542 1,499 59 1,558 
			 Staffordshire 2,561 0 2,561 2,554 443 2,997 
			 Stoke-on-Trent(19) 2,032 285 2,317 1,842 367 2,209 
			 Telford and Wrekin(19) 541 464 1,005 651 596 1,247 
			 Walsall(19) 2,928 70 2,998 2,838 151 2,989 
			 Warwickshire 1,603 0 1,603 1,473 813 2,286 
			 Wolverhampton(19) 2,720 115 2,835 2,584 134 2,718 
			 Worcestershire 1,530 0 1,530 1,586 751 2,337 
			   
			 East of England 14,865 0 14,865 15,740 4,352 20,092 
			 Bedfordshire 1,211 0 1,211 1,202 218 1,420 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,091 0 1,091 1,154 867 2,021 
			 Essex 1,961 0 1,961 1,9292 221 2,213 
			 Hertfordshire 5,890 0 5,890 6,406 257 6,663 
			 Luton 954 0 954 975 996 1,971 
			 Norfolk 1,885 0 1,885 1,932 126 2,058 
			 Peterborough 316 0 316 288 593 881 
			 Southend-on-Sea 453 0 453 446 440 886 
			 Suffolk 633 0 633 857 477 1,334 
			 Thurrock 471 0 471 488 157 645 
			
			 London 46,466 12,138 58,604 46,679 20,825 67,504 
			 Inner London 21,773 8,567 30,340 21,508 10,078 31,586 
			 Camden(19) 916 769 1,685 915 718 1,633 
			 City of London 10 0 10 12 1 13 
			 Hackney(19) 1,608 951 2,559 12 968 2,488 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham(19) 1,102 371 1,473 1,025 586 1,611(19) 
			 Haringey(19) 1,980 396 2,376 1,932 486 2,418 
			 Islington(19) 1,247 780 2,027 1,252 812 2,064 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 591 0 591 612 277 889 
			 Lambeth(19) 1,957 1,102 3,059 1,955 1,163 3,118 
			 Lewisham(19) 1,869 816 2,685 1,892 968 2,860 
			 Newham(19) 3,462 448 3,910 3,306 551 3,857 
			 Southwark(19) 2,214 745 2,959 2,242 1,150 3,392 
			 Tower Hamlets(19) 2,347 315 2,662 2,358 281 2,639 
			 Wandsworth(19) 1,661 1,293 2,954 1,629 1,349 2,978 
			 Westminster(19) 809 579 1,388 858 768 1,626 
			 Outer London 24,693 3,571 28,264 25,171 10,747 35,918 
			 Barking and Dagenham(19) 1,393 294 1,687 1,418 326 1,744 
			 Barnet 2,010 0 2,010 1,995 389 2,384 
			 Bexley 1,385 0 1,385 1,314 911 2,225 
			 Brent(19) 1,684 754 2,438 1,684 875 2,559 
			 Bromley 242 0 242 247 428 675 
			 Croydon 1,826 0 1,826 1,894 623 2,517 
			 Ealing(19) 2,587 555 3,142 2,604 527 3,131 
			 Enfield 1,30 0 1,230 1,236 1,034 2,270 
			 Greenwich(19) 1,894 715 2,609 1,80 765 2,565 
			 Harrow 620 0 620 615 350 965 
			 Havering 550 0 550 603 1,210 1,813 
			 Hillingdon 1,360 0 1,360 1,813 119 1,932 
			 Hounslow(19) 1,523 479 2.002 1,564 550 2,114 
			 Kingston upon Thames 940 0 940 911 172 1,083 
			 Merton 1,665 0 1,665 1,707 117 1,824 
			 Redbridge 1,604 0 1,604 1,587 852 2,439 
			 Richmond upon Thames 585 0 585 546 40 586 
			 Sutton 245 0 245 266 360 626 
			 Waltham Forest(19) 1,350 773 2,123 1,367 1,098 2,465 
			
			 South East 12,585 736 13,321 12,705 14,254 26,959 
			 Bracknell Forest 111 0 111 147 735 882 
			 Brighton and Hove(19) 772 712 1,484 732 1,032 1,764 
			 Buckinghamshire 686 0 686 790 404 1,194 
			 East Sussex 570 0 570 588 1,113 1,701 
			 Hampshire 601 0 601 589 1,748 2,337 
			 Isle of Wight(19) 134 23 157 131 471 602 
			 Kent 1,412 0 1,412 1,494 818 2,312 
			 Medway 421 0 421 412 2,119 2,531 
			 Milton Keynes 368 0 368 379 197 576 
			 Oxfordshire 995 0 995 1,024 213 1,237 
			 Portsmouth 435 0 435 441 880 1,321 
			 Reading 738 0 738 716 202 918 
			 Slough 932 0 932 976 31 1,007 
			 Southampton 435 0 435 334 1,346 1,680 
			 Surrey 2,429 0 2,429 2,426 2,145 4,571 
			 West Berkshire 261 0 261 273 99 372 
			 West Sussex 838 0 838 816 441 1,257 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 306 0 306 306 226 532 
			 Wokingham 141 0 141 131 32 163 
			   
			 South West 8,923 2,023 10,946 8,725 12,375 21,100 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 303 0 303 288 195 482 
			 Bournemouth 267 0 267 282 914 1,196 
			 Bristol, City of 2,802 0 2,802 2,653 1,169 3,822 
			 Cornwall and Isle of Scilly(19) 1,057 1,666 2,723 987 2,089 3.076 
			 Devon 1,197 0 1,197 1,200 630 1,830 
			 Dorset 246 0 246 215 288 503 
			 Gloucestershire 74 0 74 97 3,385 3,482 
			 North somerset 195 0 195 200 98 200 
			 Plymouth(19) 776 358 1,134 744 1,508 2,252 
			 Poole 78 0 78 92 742 834 
			 Somerset 474 0 474 503 217 720 
			 South Gloucestershire 331 0 331 341 145 486 
			 Swindon 414 0 414 412 172 584 
			 Torbay 394 0 394 391 505 896 
			 Wiltshire 315 0 315 320 319 639 
		
	
	(17) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from Annual Schools' Census.
	(18) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at private, voluntary, independent and local authority settings.
	(19) This LEA received Nursery Education Grant funding for three-year-olds in 1999–2000, there were 65 such LEAs.

Further Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to encourage more children to continue their education in (a) sixth form and (b) further education colleges.

Ivan Lewis: We have set out our vision for post-16 learning in the recent White Paper, "Schools: Achieving Success". We want all young people to continue after the age of 16 in high quality learning opportunities which best meet their needs and potential. This may be in school, college or in the work-based route. We have established the Learning and Skills Council to drive this forward and have put in place a number of measures which provide the support and incentives young people need to take up and succeed in learning. We are introducing the new Connexions service to provide advice and guidance to young people on the full range of learning options open to them and to help them progress within their chosen learning environment. We are also addressing the financial barriers to participation through piloting the education maintenance allowance scheme; providing discretionary funding targeted at specific learner needs, and the Connexions card, which offered discounts on transport and learning materials.

Violent and Disruptive Pupils

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce legislation to deal with pupils who are violent and disruptive in the classroom and who threaten (a) teachers and (b) other classmates.

Stephen Timms: We will not tolerate violent or abusive behaviour towards teachers or pupils. Parenting orders may already be sought in cases where pupils have committed a criminal act. Our recent "Schools: Achieving Success" White Paper highlights our plans to extend the use of parenting orders so that they can be activated following violence or persistent misbehaviour by pupils at school. Parenting orders provide guidance to parents in managing challenging behaviour and their wider use would encourage parents to take more responsibility for behaviour in school.
	We have also made it clear to schools that if a pupil is violent to classmates or persistently bullies them, or if they are violent or threaten violence to teachers, head teachers have the legal power to exclude that pupil permanently. While recognising that permanent exclusion is a serious matter, we plan to require in legislation that exclusion appeal panels balance the excluded pupil's interests against those of all other members of the school community.

School Grounds (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which school grounds in Sussex have been sold since May 1997.

Stephen Timms: No data were collected centrally on how many school grounds were sold before October 1998. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Before October 1998, there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling school playing fields if it wanted to. As local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools are now required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of playing fields or any part of a playing field, which can be said to comprise school grounds, we have collected information about the sale of school playing fields since October 1998. For the purposes of answering the question I have, therefore, equated school grounds to school playing fields.
	Since 1 October 1998, the Secretary of State has approved the sale of various areas of school grounds that fall within the definition of school playing fields under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 at the following schools in West Sussex and East Sussex:
	Beacon Community College, Crowborough;
	Barnham Primary School, Bognor Regis; Chichester High School for Girls, Chichester;
	Lindfield Junior School, Haywards Heath 1 ;
	The Forest School, Horsham;
	Hazelwick School, Crawley;
	Catherington Special School, Crawley, and
	Deerswood Special School, Crawley.
	1 School closed 31 August 2000

Student Support

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the evidence that informed her judgment relating to the impact on the Government's target for 18 to 30-year-olds in higher education of the current system of student support.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 31 October 2001
	Last month my right hon. Friend announced the review of student support which, in seeking to get the right balance between the contributions made by the state, the parent and the graduate, has the explicit aim of ensuring that we reach our target of 50 per cent. of 18 to 30-year-olds having the opportunity to participate in higher education. In particular, the review will consider, in relation to the current system of student support, concerns expressed about the impact of debt, or perceptions of future debt, which have been identified in the 1998–99 student income and expenditure report, the DfES research report, "Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Decisions on Participation by Lower Social Class Groups" (2001), and elsewhere. We want to ensure opportunities for all and are reviewing student funding to remove obstacles that might deter potential students from low-income families participating in higher education.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Leisure Services (Lee Valley)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on leisure services operated by the Lee Valley Authority.

Tessa Jowell: The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is a statutory authority funded from a levy on all 32 London boroughs, Thurrock borough council and Hertfordshire and Essex county councils.
	The Park Authority has a specific remit to regenerate the 12,500 acres of the Lee Valley as a regional park and to provide high quality regional sports and leisure facilities. The Park Authority is in the process of developing its facilities in accordance with its 10-year business plan published in 2000.

Sport (Centres of Excellence)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on regional centres of excellence for sports.

Richard Caborn: The Government remain committed to the development of the United Kingdom Sports Institute (UKSI) and good progress is being made in its establishment. Centres in Scotland and Wales are now operational; the English Institute is developing apace and it is hoped that work on the Northern Ireland Institute will begin soon. It is vital now that all those agencies with an interest in elite sport work together collectively to assist athletes achieve their ultimate goal.

Ofcom

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her plans for representation for Wales on the proposed Ofcom.

Kim Howells: The draft Communications Bill to be published in spring 2002 will contain details of how the interests of Wales will be represented within Ofcom.

Foot and Mouth

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the effects of foot and mouth disease on the hotel industry.

Tessa Jowell: The Department's best estimate is that revenue loss to the English tourism industry overall is likely to be around £3.3 billion in "value added" terms. The effects of FMD on the tourism industry, including the hotel sector, have been uneven, some areas have done well, others have been hit disproportionately hard. The Government introduced a package of recovery assistance for rural businesses, including tourism businesses, affected by the consequent implications of foot and mouth disease. In total, these measures will bring benefits to businesses of over £300 million.

Foot and Mouth

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the effects of foot and mouth disease on the tourism industry in England.

Kim Howells: The Department's best estimate is that the revenue loss to the English tourism industry for March to October is likely to be around £3.3 billion in "value added" terms.
	An additional £3.8 million was provided to the English Tourism Council in April for immediate recovery work. The British Tourist Authority has received an additional £14.2 million for marketing and promotion. The Regional Development Agency business recovery fund, established in April, is designed to provide targeted help for rural businesses, including tourism businesses, affected by the consequent implications of foot and mouth disease. On 18 October, the Government allocated a further £24 million to the fund taking the total to £74 million. The fund is one element in a package of recovery assistance for tourism that includes business rate relief and deferral of tax payments. These measures and existing programmes will help to encourage tourism.

British Cultural Identity

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will introduce plans to encourage the celebration of British cultural identity.

Kim Howells: British cultural identity can be expressed through buildings and institutions, through the heritage and history of our communities, through art, literature, television and radio, through an appreciation of our countryside and landscape, and most of all through the diversity of the British people and their everyday lives. It is celebrated each day in theatres, halls, libraries, museums and galleries, in cinemas and sports stadiums up and down the country, finding expression in the talent and participation of people of all ages. This Department will continue to give people and communities the confidence and resources fully to express and to celebrate their cultural identity in an atmosphere of tolerance, openness and respect.

Equal Opportunities

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to promote equal opportunities among the non-departmental public bodies which her Department funds.

Tessa Jowell: I am determined that the Boards of my Department's public bodies reflect the diversity of the society they serve and have set challenging targets for the representation of women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people. We are currently reviewing our appointments equal opportunities action plan which is published annually, together with those of other Departments, in "Quangos-Opening up Public Appointments", which is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Community Sport

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to give children more opportunities to participate in sport in the community.

Richard Caborn: My Department has a PSA target to raise significantly year on year the average time spent on sport and physical activity by those aged six to 16. A key element of the School Sport Co-ordinator programme, which will see a network of 1,000 co-ordinators in secondary schools across the country, is to encourage better links between schools and community sports clubs. We will also ensure that facilities refurbished or built under the Space for Sport and Arts initiative and the New Opportunities Fund's PE and School Sport programme will be available for both school and community use. In addition, Sport England's Active Sports programme aims to work through local centres, coaches and clubs to enable young people to participate in sport more frequently, improve their skills and compete at various levels.

Community Sport

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the facilities available for sport in the community.

Richard Caborn: Sport England estimates that there are over 6,300 sports hall and swimming pool facilities and approximately 500 synthetic turf pitches in England which meet Sport England's minimum standards in terms of size and community access. In addition there are many smaller community indoor facilities which are used for a range of community activities other than sport.

National Stadium

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on when Britain will have a national stadium.

Richard Caborn: Scotland and Wales already have national stadiums.
	Whether the current English National Stadium project can be developed depends to a great extent on whether the Football Association—whose events are crucial to the viability of the stadium—actually want to proceed with the National Stadium.
	The discussions between Patrick Carter and the Football Association are intended to clarify the Football Association's position. The Government will, of course respond, to any proposals but we have made it clear that no taxpayers money will be committed to develop the stadium.

National Stadium

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on a national stadium for England.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) and for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) and the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1380–81W.

Community Radio Licences

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the result of the latest bids for community radio licences will be announced.

Kim Howells: The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio. I understand that the Radio Authority are is to announce its decision about the award of the Independent Local Radio licence to serve the town of Reading in February 2002.

Coalfield Communities (Lottery Funding)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made in ensuring that coalfield communities receive a greater share of national lottery proceeds.

Richard Caborn: My Department and Lottery distributors commissioned Sheffield Hallam University to research the impact of the Lottery on the coalfields and we have been working with coalfield groups to take forward recommendations to improve the take-up of funding in such areas. I shall publish a report tomorrow (6 November) on the progress made.

Gaming Machines

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has had regarding gaming machines in private clubs.

Richard Caborn: We have received a substantial number of representations about the recommendation that jackpot gaming machines should not be allowed in such clubs. We are considering them, but have not yet reached any conclusions. We intend to make an announcement about the report as a whole early next year.

Gambling Review

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the gambling review.

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the gaming review.

Richard Caborn: When we published the report of the gambling review body we initiated a period of consultation which ended on 31 October. We are now considering all the responses and intend to announce our conclusions early next year.

Picketts Lock

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the decision to abandon Picketts Lock as a venue for the world athletics championships.

Tessa Jowell: Patrick Carter's report on the Lee Valley project was completed on 31 August. The report concluded that the level of risk facing the project had reached such a stage as to make it unsustainable.
	Having discussed his conclusions in detail with Sport England, the Government needed to decide whether to invest significant amounts of new money in the project to make it sustainable or whether to look to alternatives. Patrick Carter took the view that even with significant additional funding, the Lee Valley project still faced the very real prospect of being a substandard event due to transport, infrastructure and athlete accommodation difficulties.
	The Government were not willing to see the United Kingdom proceed to stage a substandard event and with Sport England's agreement, decided to terminate the project on 4 October.

Dual Use Stadiums

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the viability of dual use stadiums with retractable seating for football and athletics; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have made no specific assessment of the viability of dual use stadiums.

Eden Project

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress on the Eden project.

Tessa Jowell: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

S4C

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the subsidy paid to S4C; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: It is an important principle that broadcasters should be independent of Government. In accordance with this principle the funding paid to S4C to provide a Welsh language broadcasting service is set by the formula in section 80 of the Broadcasting Act 1996.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State lays an annual report and statement of accounts prepared by S4C before Parliament annually.

World Cup

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the network television broadcasting of World Cup matches in the United Kingdom.

Tessa Jowell: The whole of the World Cup Finals tournament is protected as a listed event in the UK, reflecting its importance to many millions of people. I therefore welcome the announcement made by the BBC and ITV on 18 October that they have signed an exclusive deal to broadcast the World Cup Finals tournaments in 2002 and 2006. This deal upholds the objective of the listed events legislation and will ensure that UK viewers are able to watch the entire 2002 and 2006 tournaments live on free-to-air, terrestrial television.

Sports Coaching

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of the Minister for Sport of 16 July 2001, Official Report, column 4, if she will report the outcome of the meeting of 28 June on sports coaching facilities, and outline progress of subsequent meetings.

Richard Caborn: At the first meeting of the coaching task force on 28 June the Terms of Reference set out in "The Government's Plan for Sport" were agreed and three sub-groups were established. The sub-groups have met on a number of occasions and reported back to the second meeting of the taskforce on 25 September. This meeting considered a draft model for a national coaching qualification and agreed to undertake an international bench-marking exercise on coaching structures in a number of other countries. The next meeting of the taskforce will take place on 22 November.

Sports Coaching

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for parents and grandparents to take basic sport coaching courses; and what links they will have to the National Experience Corps.

Richard Caborn: The coaching taskforce established earlier this year has a remit to review the co-ordination of coach education and training. As part of the groups' wider tasks they are currently exploring the opportunities for encouraging more parents and grandparents to become involved in coaching.
	My Department are currently examining ways in which the National Experience Corps can contribute to achieving this aim.

Sports Coaching

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to promote coaching skills among parents.

Richard Caborn: The coaching taskforce established earlier this year has a remit to review the co-ordination of coach education and training. As part of the groups' wider tasks they are currently exploring the opportunities for encouraging more parents to become involved in coaching.

Museum and Gallery Entry

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made towards ensuring free entry to national museums and galleries.

Tessa Jowell: Our policy is to encourage all museums to offer the widest possible access to their collections. We have enabled those museums and galleries funded by my Department which already offer free admission to continue to offer it. We have scrapped entry charges for children and people over 60 at the main museums and galleries sponsored by my Department that currently charge and have made available from 1 December 2001 additional resources to allow them to introduce free admission for all from that date.
	The restoration of free access will enable the greatest collections we have, built up by public funds over generations, to be available to everyone, no matter what their income or background.

Lottery Moneys

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total amount of lottery moneys paid by parliamentary constituency in each of the last four years.

Richard Caborn: I will place copies of the information requested in the Libraries of both Houses.

National Lottery

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to review the procedure for awarding the national lottery operating licence.

Richard Caborn: Following the announcement earlier this year by my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) that the Government would review the process for selecting the national lottery operator, we are now considering options for change and will be seeking the views of interested parties. We expect to publish our conclusions next year as the basis for wider public consultation.

Public Libraries

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in improving the service provided by public libraries.

Tessa Jowell: The Government have encouraged better planning and accountability in public library services through the introduction of Annual Library Plans and a more rigorous enforcement of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Standards of service for library authorities were introduced from 1 April this year. Additionally, £170 million of lottery money is being made available to libraries through the People's Network programme to upgrade their ICT infrastructure, create innovative digital content and train library staff in the use of ICT.

Sport and Recreation Facilities

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what figures she has collated on spending by local authorities in England on sport and recreation facilities since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Local authorities are key providers of sport and recreation and play a central role in the delivery of sport in and for the community. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions publishes annual figures on spending by local authorities on sport and recreation. Since 1997 local authorities have spent over £549 million on new construction, conversion and renovation of sport and recreation facilities, which includes a substantial investment from the national lottery, to improve facilities for local communities.

TREASURY

Cancer Patients

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of prostate cancer patients live for at least five years after treatment in the United Kingdom, and what is the average such percentage in the European Union;
	(2)  what percentage of leukaemia sufferers live for at least five years after treatment in the United Kingdom, and what is the average such percentage in the European Union;
	(3)  what percentage of breast cancer patients live for at least five years after the treatment in the United Kingdom; and what the average such percentage is in the European Union.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Robyn Lynch to Mr. John Bercow, dated 5 November 2001
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions on the percentage of prostate cancer patients, leukaemia sufferers and breast cancer patients that live at least five years after treatment in the United Kingdom and the average such percentages in the European Union. (11869, 11870, 11871). I am replying in his absence.
	The information requested is not available.
	However, the latest available comparable rates of survival from time of diagnosis for England, Scotland and some other countries in Europe were published in Berrino F, Capocaccia R, Estève J, Gatta G, Hakulinen T, Micheli M, Sant M, Verdecchia A (eds). Survival of cancer patients in Europe - the EUROCARE-2 study. (IARC Scientific Publications No.151. Lyons: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1999).
	A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.

Mobile Phone Licences

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Department of Trade and Industry and (b) Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions concerning 3G mobile phone licences.

Andrew Smith: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues and others to discuss a wide range of issues.

Illegally Imported Alcohol

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue lost each year to the Treasury because of illegally imported alcohol; and what plans he has to reduce the loss.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Estimates of alcohol fraud were published in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General "Losses to the Revenue from Frauds on Alcohol Duty" (HC 178) in July 2001.
	Details of the Government strategy to tackle alcohol fraud will be published in due course.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the target of HM Customs and Excise is for detecting notifiable export irregularities.

Paul Boateng: Targets for the number of notifiable export irregularities detected are not set.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made since 11 September of the priority given by HM Customs and Excise to detecting notifiable import and export irregularities.

Paul Boateng: Customs continue to deploy resources on the basis of intelligence and assessment of risk. Many of the potential risks which can result in notifiable import and export irregularities are unaffected by the 11 September events. Where intelligence or risk assessment indicates an increased risk a higher priority is afforded.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many and in what percentage of searches of premises by HM Customs and Excise were (a) smuggled goods and (b) other evidence relating to an offence discovered in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date.

Paul Boateng: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many searches of premises were conducted by HM Customs and Excise (a) by consent, (b) by warrant and (c) by writ of assistance in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date.

Paul Boateng: Figures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not yet available. For the year 1999–2000 there were 298 searches of premises conducted by consent, 265 conducted by warrant and 183 by writ of assistance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases were taken to court for Common Agricultural Policy export refund offences and irregularities levied by the Intervention Board as a result of Customs detections; what was the total overclaim value of those cases; and what was the total sum of penalties awarded in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date.

Paul Boateng: There were no cases taken to court by HM Customs and Excise for Common Agricultural Policy export refund offences in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and no cases to date for 2001–02.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people were detained after arrest by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date; and how many such people were subsequently (i) charged, (ii) released on payment of a compound settlement and (iii) released for other reasons;
	(2)  how many people were kept in Customs detention for more than 24 hours in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date; and how many people in each year were subsequently released without charge.

Paul Boateng: Figures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not yet available.
	
		1999–2000
		
			  England and Wales Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 Number of persons:   
			 Detained after arrest 3,595 89 
			 Detained for more than 24 hours and subsequently released without charge 25 0 
			
			 Number of persons for whom warrants for further detention were:   
			 Applied for 27 0 
			 Granted(20) 26 0 
			
			 (20)in this instance, the number of persons:   
			 Charged 46 0 
			 Released on payment of a settlement 5 0 
			
			 Number of persons:   
			 Charged 1,563 18 
			 Released on payment of a settlement 310 1 
			 Released for other reasons 0 0

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions were brought by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date in cases where the offence is registrable under the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

Paul Boateng: As part of the multi-agency approach to combating paedophile activity both Customs and Excise and the police bring prosecutions following the investigation of detections of material by Customs.
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Total number of prosecutions 33 29 
			 Police 14 14 
			 HM Customs 19 15 
		
	
	The figures for 2001–02 are incomplete.

Customs and Excise

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many searches of persons carried out by Customs and Excise officers related to (a) drugs, (b) revenue goods and (c) other prohibited or restricted goods in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date; and what percentages of the number of searches conducted this represented in each case.

Paul Boateng: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Individual Pension Account

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce the individual pension account.

Ruth Kelly: The individual pensions account was introduced in Budget 2001. They have been available since April 2001.

FRS 17 Regulations

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the FRS 17 regulations on portfolio decisions of pension fund managers; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: FRS 17, like the other financial reporting standards, is a matter for the Accounting Standards Board.

Kingscrest Case

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 127W, on care homes, what steps his Department has taken to challenge the decision of the London VAT tribunal.

Paul Boateng: The Government are of the clear view that care of vulnerable people provided in residential homes should not be subject to VAT.
	Customs and Excise appealed against this tribunal decision. The appeal is expected to be heard early in the new year.

Landfill Tax Credit

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which organisations and individuals he has (a) already consulted and (b) plans to consult on the future of landfill tax credit; and when the consultations took place;
	(2)  when he plans to make an announcement on the future of landfill tax credit.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are committed to meeting the challenging targets for waste recycling set out in Waste Strategy 2000. As stated in Budget 2001, it is attracted to replacing all or part of the landfill tax credit scheme with a public spending programme to direct resources towards Government priorities on sustainable waste management. The Government, together with the devolved Administrations, are now beginning work on developing options for a spending programme for consideration as part of Spending Review 2002. In taking forward this work, the Government will consult with interested parties on the shape of any replacement scheme and the transition to any replacement.

Brownfield Sites

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 375W, and 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 625W, on brownfield sites, what information he has (a) collated and (b) published on the take-up of the tax credit for clearing and developing brownfield sites.

Paul Boateng: No estimates are currently available for the take up of this measure. Tax relief for expenditure on the remediation of contaminated land will be claimed in the tax return of the company undertaking the remediation work and those returns do not have to be filed until 12 months after the end of the accounting period concerned. Relief is available in respect of land remediation expenditure incurred on or after 11 May 2001, therefore those companies who take advantage of this relief are unlikely to file their tax returns until May 2002 at the earliest. Information provided in those returns is covered by the normal rules on taxpayer confidentiality.

Tobin Tax

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his European colleagues on the Tobin tax; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Tobin tax was discussed by European Finance Ministers during the 22 September informal ECOFIN meeting in Liege. Ministers agreed to further work into the economic implications and practical issues raised by the Tobin tax as part of a wider study into the challenges of globalisation.

Tobin Tax

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the Tobin tax.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury has received correspondence from the public and non-governmental organisations, as well as academic assessments of the Tobin tax, and there have been meetings with non- governmental organisations and academics to discuss the issues.
	The Tobin tax was also discussed by European Finance Ministers during the 22 September informal ECOFIN meeting in Liege. Ministers agreed to further work into the economic implications and practical issues raised by the Tobin tax as part of a wider study into the challenges of globalisation.

Church Repairs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of his policy on making a grant available for the repair of churches in lieu of reducing VAT; and what representations he has received on this subject.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor's long-term objective is to reduce the VAT rate levied on repairs to listed places of worship from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. This is not permitted under current European Community legislation, but the European Commission has indicated that it will look at the UK's proposal to amend the VAT rules when these are reviewed in 2003. In the interim, the Chancellor has decided to introduce a grant scheme which will award the differential between the 17.5 per cent. and 5 per cent. rate to qualifying buildings. This scheme has been widely welcomed by owners of listed places of worship. It represents significant additional funds for this group—initial estimates are up to £30 million per year.

Sustainable Waste Management

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of the environmental bodies in meeting his indicative guidelines for spending on sustainable waste management projects in the last 12 months.

Paul Boateng: It is too early to make any meaningful assessment. In May this year the Government set the waste industry a challenging target of 65 per cent. of landfill tax credits to be allocated to sustainable waste management projects. The Government will review progress in forthcoming budget reports.

Bank Disclosures

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 204W, on bank disclosures, what (a) barriers to and (b) opportunities for growth in the individual banks' lending activities in disadvantaged communities he has identified; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The barriers and opportunities to banks' lending activities in disadvantaged communities are identified in several reports including:
	"Enterprise and Social Exclusion, Policy Action Team 3" (HM Treasury November 1999).
	"Enterprising Communities: Wealth Beyond Welfare" (Social Investment Task Force, October 2000).
	"Finance for Small Businesses in Deprived Communities" (Bank of England November 2000).

Competitiveness

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the World Economic Forum calculation of the change in the ranking of the United Kingdom in the league table of competitiveness from 1998 to 2000.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 640W, regarding the World Economic Forum's growth competitiveness index.

Competitiveness

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Institute of Management Development calculation of the change in the ranking of the United Kingdom in the league table of competitiveness from 1997 to 2001.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkstone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 640W.

Market Abuse Directive

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his position in regard to the proposed EU market abuse directive;
	(2)  what the forecast cost to the UK financial services industry is of the proposed EU market abuse directive.

Ruth Kelly: The Government support the Commission's objectives of developing the single market in financial services and promoting the integrity of the single market. The proposal for the directive creates for the first time an EU-wide regime to counter market manipulation and updates the existing insider dealing provisions to enable them to benefit from the enhanced co-operation measures.
	The Government will examine the proposal carefully to ensure that there is no diminution in the level of protection from market manipulation currently enjoyed by UK markets, that the level of regulation proposed is proportionate and consistent with the goal of advancing the single market in financial services, and that any consequent changes to the UK's new market abuse regime are kept to a minimum.
	Since the United Kingdom has a rigorous market abuse regime under part VIII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 due to come into force shortly, United Kingdom firms should already have in place measures to counter abusive behaviour.
	However, the directive as currently drafted would require some modifications to the existing regulatory regime. The inflexible regulatory approach taken in the current draft of the directive could give rise to additional compliance costs as firms incur legal costs on advice to avoid behaviour that could give rise to enforcement actions.
	The Government's goal in negotiations is to minimise the need for modification of the current regulatory regime to ensure the directive effectively tackles market abuse and does not impose additional, unnecessary costs.

Charities (Taxation)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the taxation of charities.

Ruth Kelly: The Government keep all taxes under review and decisions are made as part of the normal Budget process. In April 2000 the Government introduced a number of measures to help charities and to improve incentives for charitable giving. The Getting Britain Giving package of measures included improvements to the Gift Aid and Payroll Giving schemes and a new income tax relief for giving shares to charities. The Government are supporting the Giving Campaign, an independent charities-led initiative, to encourage a culture of giving and increase awareness of planned tax efficient giving.

Business Start-up Tax Credits

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the provision of business start-up tax credits in the Objective 1 areas.

Ruth Kelly: The Government published proposals in March 2001 for a new community investment tax credit to increase the availability of capital to small enterprises, including start-ups, in disadvantaged communities. Details of the proposal can be found in the Treasury consultation document "Enterprising Communities: A Tax Incentive for Community Investment".

Office of Government Commerce

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the saving to public funds that will be realised by the establishment of the Office of Government Commerce.

Andrew Smith: The OGC has been set a target to deliver £1 billion value for money gains across central Government by 2002–03. This will be achieved by Departments applying the tools, methods and techniques promoted by OGC.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in the rate of value added tax have been introduced since 1 May 1997.

Paul Boateng: Changes up to 1 January 2001 are published in table C6 of the tables and statistics accompanying the Customs and Excise annual report for 2000, available on the Customs and Excise website.
	Changes to VAT rates announced in the Budget of 7 March 2001 were published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2001.

Mortgage Lenders (Fees)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to prohibit the practice of mortgage lenders charging their customers a fee should they move their mortgage to an alternative mortgage lender.

Ruth Kelly: There are legitimate reasons for lenders to charge fees, not least the administration costs that are involved in transferring deeds to other lenders, together with the essential correspondence that needs to be entered into between borrower and (both) lenders as well as between lenders. Moreover, there is clear disclosure of these fees upfront in line with the benchmarks set out in CAT standard mortgages. I do not therefore propose to prohibit this practice.

Tobacco

Rachel Squire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the tax revenue received in each of the last three financial years from the sale of (a) cigars and (b) cigarettes.

Paul Boateng: Duty receipts from sales of tobacco products are published in chapter C of the Government's annual Financial Statement and Budget Report. Duty receipts from sales of individual types of tobacco products are set out on a regular basis in the HM Customs and Excise "Tobacco Factsheet", available from the House of Commons Library.

Tobacco

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the mean annual revenue in terms of (a) tobacco tax and (b) VAT on combined cost of tobacco products and the duty thereon imposed, from each smoker in the UK in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2000–01; and if he will estimate the mean annual combined tobacco tax and VAT revenue to be raised from each smoker in the UK in 2001–02.

Paul Boateng: No accurate estimates are currently available.

Correspondence

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter of the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on fiscal variations; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: All representations in advance of the 2002 Budget will be considered carefully in the normal way.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the value of cross-Channel smuggling in summer (a) 2001 and (b) 2000.

Paul Boateng: For Customs' estimate of cross-Channel smuggling in 2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 7 March 2001, Official Report, columns 229–30W. Results from the first year of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy, including Customs' estimate of cross-Channel smuggling in 2001, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the share of the tobacco market represented by illicit supplies in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which information is available.

Paul Boateng: Results from the first year of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy, including the level of the illicit market for 2000–01, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report. Customs estimate of the size of the illicit market during 2001–02 will be published on a full financial year basis during 2002–03.

Cigarette Seizures

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cigarettes were seized by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to the latest date for which information is available to him.

Paul Boateng: Results from the first year of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy, including the number of cigarettes seized during 2000–01, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report. Customs cigarette seizures for 2001–02 will be published on a full financial year basis during 2002–03.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Travel Warrants (Members' Spouses)

George Osborne: To ask the President of the Council what plans there are to increase the number of travel warrants available to the spouses of Members each year.

Robin Cook: I am not aware of any such plans. The hon. Gentleman may wish to raise the matter with the Speaker's Advisory Panel, which considers such matters.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Special Advisers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers employed by the Government participate directly with civil service press and public relations staff in the planning and implementation of press and media announcements.

Christopher Leslie: Special advisers advise Ministers on the development of Government policy and its presentation, liaising as necessary with civil service press officers.

Civil Service (Departmental Changes)

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the net effect on full-time employee headcount of the civil service of the departmental changes announced in June.

Christopher Leslie: Central data on civil service personnel is collected twice yearly on the basis of staff in post at 1 April and 1 October. Changes in civil service staffing levels, including any attributable to the departmental changes announced in June, will not therefore become apparent until figures for October 2001 are available.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Deaths (Registration)

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will take steps to change the law on the registration of deaths to ensure equality of treatment as between married and unmarried couples.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	In 1998, the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury commissioned the Registrar-General to carry out a fundamental review of the civil registration service in England and Wales. This was in recognition of the fact that much of the civil registration system is outdated and does not meet the needs of today's society.
	In September 1999, the Registrar-General published a consultation paper, 'Registration: Modernising a Vital Service'. The consultation period ended on 6 December 1999. The responses have been used to set out options for the future development of the registration service, so that it can adapt to the changing needs and attitudes of a modern society.
	Many of the responses to the consultation document were in support of equality of treatment for men and women in the records of births, deaths and marriages. Proposals on how this could be achieved are now being formulated and the intention is to publish a policy paper in due course.

Georgina McCarthy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action she intends to take on the Family Law Act Sub-Committee's report on the murder of Georgina McCarthy.

Rosie Winterton: The Sub-Committee's recommendations are currently being considered by a working party of the inter-departmental group on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. The working group, which comprises officials from the Lord Chancellor's Department, Home Office and Department of Health, met on 1 November 2001. Areas were identified for action by each Department and work has begun on developing an inter-departmental strategy to deal with the issue of improving co-operation between the criminal and civil/family jurisdictions.

Bailiff Law

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to reform bailiff law.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 451W.
	The consultation period for the Green Paper 'Towards Effective Enforcement' ended on 12 October 2001. We are very grateful to the wide range of individuals and organisations who have used their time and expertise to respond to the Green Paper.
	The responses are currently being analysed by the Enforcement Review Team.

Clinical Negligence

Frank Dobson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, how many applications for legal aid in claims for clinical negligence against the NHS were (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission does not record case data in a way that would enable an answer to be given to the exact question asked.
	The number of certificates issued by the Commission for legal aid relating to all claims for clinical negligence was as follows:
	(a) in 1996–97: 9,165;
	(b) in 1997–98: 11,899;
	(c) in 1998–99: 7,867;
	(d) in 1999–2000: 7,375; and
	(e) in 2000–01: 7,329.
	It is not possible to say, at this level of detail, how many applications were accepted and rejected. Approximate refusal rates are available for the last two years:
	in 1999–2000: 10 per cent.
	in 2000–01: 8 per cent.
	In addition to this refusal rate, a number of offers of legal aid are not pursued. This figure is in the order of 10 per cent. of applications received.
	It is not possible to separate applications from claimants and defendants, or those which involve the NHS from those which do not.

Clinical Negligence

Frank Dobson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, of legal aid in claims for clinical negligence against the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission does not record case data in a way that would enable an answer to be given to the exact question asked.
	The Commission records the value of main bills paid, comprising solicitors' costs, disbursements and counsels' fees. The total figures for each year also include the value of claims which are met in full by the opponents. The net cost to the Commission of clinical negligence cases is therefore less than the figures given:
	(a) in 1996–97: £56.9 million;
	(b) in 1997–98: £64.4 million;
	(c) in 1998–99: £64.6 million;
	(d) in 1999–2000: £60.6 million; and
	(e) in 2000–01: £52.8 million.
	It is not possible to separate claims against the NHS from claims against GPs and dentists; or can the Commission differentiate between NHS defendants and non-NHS defendants.
	Prior to the introduction of civil contracting in January 2000, clinical negligence was not separately identified as a category of advice work. The figures therefore do not provide information regarding payments for advice and assistance work done under the former 'green form' system.

Magistrates Courts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court cases in magistrates courts have been abandoned in each of the last five years owing to non-appearance of (a) witnesses and (b) police witnesses.

Michael Wills: Information has not been collected nationally on cases which have been abandoned. From 1 January 2002, a joint scheme will be implemented in England and Wales to collect data on the reasons for Cracked, Ineffective and Vacated trials in the magistrates courts.

Working Group on Gender Allocation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a further statement on progress of the Home Office Working Group on Gender Allocation.

Rosie Winterton: This subject was transferred from the Home Office to the Lord Chancellor's Department in the recent machinery of Government changes. The Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People was presented to Parliament in July 2002. The report has been carefully considered within Government and by other interested groups. The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and are considering further how to take the matter forward.

Induction and Accommodation Centres

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice and representation will be available to asylum seekers in induction and accommodation centres.

Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 29 October 2001, Official Report, column 642.
	Details of the services that will be available in induction and accommodation centres will appear in the White Paper, which my right hon. Friend announced on 29 October 2001.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Category A Prisoners

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were classified as category A prisoners in prisons in England and Wales as at 1 July.

Beverley Hughes: Provisional information shows that on 1 July 2001 there were four female category A prisoners in prisons in England and Wales, all of which were adults, compared with 955 category A adult males, and 14 category A male young offenders.

Personal Identity Documents

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance the Government give to Departments in cases involving the loss of personal identity documents (a) when they are being held by Departments and (b) in other circumstances.

Angela Eagle: Staff in Home Office departments handling documents of identity are instructed to treat them with proper regard to security.
	Where it is confirmed after a thorough search that a document has been lost in the department, the document is replaced at the expense of the department. The circumstances are investigated and the situation monitored.
	Losses in other circumstances are investigated wherever possible and the situation monitored to identify trends. Where appropriate, information to help prevent fraudulent use of documents is shared with other Departments. No general guidance to other Departments is issued.

Road Traffic Offences (Fines)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue was generated from fines for road traffic offences in the last 12 months.

John Denham: Available information taken from the 1999 Home Office Motoring Offences (Court Proceedings) Database shows that the amount (£) of fines imposed at all courts for road traffic offences within England and Wales, was £57 million.
	3.1 million fixed penalty notices were issued for road traffic offences in 1999 amounting to £80 million.

Religious Discrimination

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 1399W, on religious discrimination, if he will list the research participants who have been consulted; and if he will put copies of their evidence in the Library.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The research participants in question took part in a research project commissioned by the Home Office into religious discrimination. They included representatives of religious organisations and representatives of secular agencies in the public, private and voluntary sectors throughout England and Wales.
	I am not able to disclose their personal details as the organisations and participants were assured their responses would be confidential, as is standard practice in social surveys. In fact, researchers at the University of Derby (who conducted the research) removed all names and addresses before they sent us a copy of the survey data, which again is proper procedure.
	This research produced two reports published in the Home Office Research Study series in February 2001;
	1. "Religious discrimination in England and Wales" (ISBN 1 84082 612 6). One of the findings from this report was referred to in my last correspondence. This report provides full details of the survey findings; and
	2. "Tackling religious discrimination: practical implications for policy-makers and legislators" (ISBN 1 84082 613 4). This is a separate report produced by the Cambridge Centre for Public Law and looks at the practical implications of the findings from the survey.
	As with all our publications in the Home Office Research Study series, these reports are available in the Library.

Refugees

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what security profile is carried out on refugees arriving in the UK.

Angela Eagle: All arriving passengers are presented to the United Kingdom immigration controls where they are examined by an immigration officer before being allowed into the UK.
	That examination includes checking personal details against the Immigration Service Warnings Index. The Warnings Index computer system is the primary tool for providing information to staff operating the immigration entry control. It maintains records of passengers who have, for example, previously been refused entry or been deported, and also contains information for the purposes of national security and the detection and prevention of crime. All Immigration Service staff at control points have access to the Warnings Index and portable equipment is available for use elsewhere when needed. All arriving asylum applicants are checked against the system.

Foreign Armed Forces (UK Citizens)

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking concerning British citizens who serve with the Taliban forces.

Keith Bradley: holding answer 2 November 2001
	It is wrong to take up arms against British soldiers and their allies.
	Generally British citizens are free to travel abroad and it would not be practical to investigate every individual's intentions. However, anyone considering fighting with the Taliban will know it is wrong to take up arms against British soldiers and their allies, and should be aware that they may be laying themselves open to criminal sanctions, including for treason.
	In addition, individuals who are committing offences here under the Terrorism Act 2000 can be detained by the police for investigation.

Foreign Armed Forces (UK Citizens)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on dealing with British citizens apprehended in Afghanistan taking arms against British military personnel, on their return to the UK.

Keith Bradley: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Page) on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 862W.

Victims of Torture

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance is offered to asylum seekers who make an application to enter the UK on the basis of providing evidence that they are the victims of torture.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 1 November 2001
	A person making an application for asylum may be issued with a Statement of Evidence Form (SEF). This has an accompanying explanatory note about the role of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
	Those who are not given a SEF will be interviewed shortly after having made an asylum claim and if they raise the issue of torture during the course of their interview, the interviewing officer may advise them to get a medical report. The interviewing officer may also refer them to specialist organisations that might be able to assist them, such as the medical foundation.
	All interviewing officers are trained to deal with victims of torture and have access to guidelines setting out how to interview such people.
	All asylum seekers who are supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are provided with guidance notes explaining that they have access to the national health service (NHS).

Cannabis

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and charged with and (b) convicted of cannabis possession in (i) the Thames Valley police authority area and (ii) every other police authority area in each of the last four years.

Bob Ainsworth: Arrest data are not collected centrally by individual offence.
	Information from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database showing the number of persons convicted of the possession of cannabis by police force area during the period 1997–2000 is given in the table.
	
		Number of persons convicted at all courts for the possession of cannabis by police force area in England and Wales 1997–2000
		
			 Police force area 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 140 201 260 311 
			 Bedfordshire 227 290 248 212 
			 Cambridgeshire 154 152 147 88 
			 Cheshire 375 505 537 374 
			 Cleveland 79 123 205 221 
			 Cumbria 211 243 199 161 
			 Derbyshire 167 204 248 206 
			 Devon and Cornwall 492 587 517 479 
			 Dorset 105 222 286 281 
			 Durham 97 102 100 212 
			 Essex 465 538 559 567 
			 Gloucestershire 143 191 201 172 
			 Greater Manchester 594 728 808 895 
			 Hampshire 530 770 917 738 
			 Hertfordshire 253 228 236 233 
			 Humberside 146 213 226 232 
			 Kent 542 873 873 720 
			 Lancashire 657 885 814 716 
			 Leicestershire 244 308 245 226 
			 Lincolnshire 292 317 171 162 
			 London, City of 67 89 70 23 
			 Merseyside 999 1,312 1,246 941 
			 Metropolitan police 3,743 5,100 4,974 4,550 
			 Norfolk 318 170 261 237 
			 Northamptonshire 12 11 31 102 
			 Northumbria 314 655 879 925 
			 North Yorkshire 230 371 337 158 
			 Nottinghamshire 244 236 266 260 
			 South Yorkshire 416 474 577 617 
			 Staffordshire(20) 249 289 221 n/a 
			 Suffolk 230 239 234 166 
			 Surrey 208 250 314 358 
			 Sussex 317 330 296 272 
			 Thames Valley 550 683 642 558 
			 Warwickshire 67 76 74 74 
			 West Mercia 261 314 286 218 
			 West Midlands 785 1,212 1,114 1,213 
			 West Yorkshire 940 1,153 1,011 856 
			 Wiltshire 125 169 203 169 
			 Dyfed Powys 302 499 476 368 
			 Gwent 178 262 278 337 
			 North Wales 222 357 355 292 
			 South Wales 585 712 681 692 
			  
			 England and Wales 17,275 22,643 22,623 20,725 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(20) Estimates made for Staffordshire police force, who were able to submit data for only a sample of weeks for year 2000, have been included only in the total.
	Note:
	All data are given on a principal offence basis.

Cannabis

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect on the (a) quantity of cannabis consumed in the UK, (b) quantity of tobacco consumed in the UK and (c) number of people in the UK using cannabis that would result from the reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to Class C drug.

Bob Ainsworth: I do not anticipate that a decision to reclassify cannabis from Class B to Class C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 would have any effect on the number of people using the drug or the quantity consumed. Cannabis will remain a controlled drug and using it still a criminal offence.

Sex Offences

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews of sex offences are in progress in his Department; and when their conclusions will be reported to the House.

Keith Bradley: The Government set up a Sex Offences Review in January 1999. Its recommendations on reforming the law on sex offences were published in 'Setting the Boundaries' in July 2000. We are now considering the recommendations in the light of the over 700 responses to that consultation document. We hope to make an announcement as soon as possible.
	In addition responses to consultation on a review of Part One of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (the register of sex offenders) are currently being analysed.

Asylum Seekers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information will be stored on the asylum seekers' identification smart card.

Angela Eagle: The Application Registration Card or 'ARC' will have a microchip which could enable it to support financial transactions in due course. In addition, it is currently envisaged that the following data will be stored within the microchip:
	Printed on card
	Name
	Date of Birth
	Sex
	Nationality
	IFB ref no
	Place of original issue
	Date of original issue
	Card Issue No
	Date of application
	Number of dependants
	Dependant of
	Language 1
	Language 2
	Contained in microchip
	Name
	Address
	IFB ref no
	Home Office ref no
	Port/LEO reference
	NASS ref no
	Originating Port/LEO code
	Date of Birth
	Sex
	Nationality Code
	Case Type
	Asylum/Non-asylum
	Place of original issue
	Date of original issue
	Next report date
	Case Status
	Card Issue No
	Card Serial No
	Face image
	Fingerprints
	Issuing Officer
	Fingerprint used
	Date of application
	Number of dependants
	Dependant of
	Language 1
	Language 2.
	However, these lists are still subject to change. Card design will not be confirmed until 9 November.

Asylum Seekers

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims by (a) families, (b) unaccompanied minors and (c) all persons were rejected on the grounds of non-compliance (i) as an initial decision and (ii) as a final decision, as a percentage of all decisions, for each of the last six months.

Angela Eagle: The available information on initial decisions made on asylum claims made by (a) principal applicants and (b) families are included in the table. Decision data for unaccompanied minors are unavailable.
	
		Initial decisions made(21),(22),(23) and refusals on non-compliance grounds of asylum and exceptional leave, principal applicants, February 2001-July 2001(24)
		
			   Initial decisions made Refused on non- compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions 
		
		
			 February 2001 14,430 3,460 24 
			 March 2001 18,895 3,110 16 
			 April 2001 9,455 1,415 15 
			 May 2001 9,645 1,625 17 
			 June 2001 8,205 1,400 17 
			 July 2001 7,600 1,285 17 
		
	
	(21) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest 5.
	(22) Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
	(23) May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(24) Provisional.
	
		Initial decisions made(25),(26),(27) and refusals on non-compliance grounds of asylum and exceptional leave, families, February 2001-July 2001(28)
		
			   Initial decisions made Refused on non- compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions 
		
		
			 February 2001 780 170 22 
			 March 2001 1,165 205 18 
			 April 2001 705 165 24 
			 May 2001 750 175 23 
			 June 2001 655 100 15 
			 July 2001 590 70 12 
		
	
	(25) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest 5.
	(26) Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
	(27) May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(28) Provisional.
	Information on final decisions are not readily available and would only be obtained by examination of individual case files relating to the outcomes of initial decisions, appeals and reconsiderations, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the percentage of applications for asylum refused on non-compliance grounds at the initial decision stage by country of origin in the last six months.

Angela Eagle: The information requested has been provided in the table.
	
		Refusals(29),(30),(31) of asylum and exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, February 2001-July 2001(32)
		
			  Europe  Total decisions  Total refused Percentage of total decisions Refused on non-compliance grounds  Percentage of total decisions  Percentage of total refusals 
		
		
			 Albania 975 885 91 245 25 28 
			 Czech Republic 595 595 100 60 10 10 
			 FRY 6,035 4,805 80 1,110 18 23 
			 Poland 455 445 98 95 21 21 
			 Romania 1,300 1,265 97 760 58 60 
			 Russia 525 495 94 120 23 24 
			 Turkey 4,495 4,265 95 445 10 10 
			 Ukraine 705 685 97 165 23 24 
			 Other former USSR 1,650 1,560 95 545 33 35 
			 Other former Yugo. 525 480 91 100 19 21 
			 Others 485 440 91 65 13 15 
			 Total 17,745 15,910 90 3,710 21 23 
			
			 Americas   
			 Colombia 420 375 89 65 15 17 
			 Ecuador 345 330 96 65 19 20 
			 Others 400 370 93 90 23 24 
			 Total 1,165 1,080 93 220 19 20 
			   
			 Middle East   
			 Iran 3,360 2,900 86 545 16 19 
			 Iraq 4,735 3,520 74 745 16 21 
			 Others 1,110 940 85 140 13 15 
			 Total 9,200 7,360 80 1,430 16 19 
			
			 Africa   
			 Algeria 1,670 1,585 95 345 21 22 
			 Angola 695 380 55 95 14 25 
			 Dem Rep of Congo 1,455 1,115 77 125 9 11 
			 Ethiopia 650 515 79 40 6 8 
			 Gambia 45 35 78 10 22 29 
			 Ghana 230 180 78 55 24 31 
			 Ivory Coast 305 285 93 50 16 18 
			 Kenya 540 490 91 105 19 21 
			 Nigeria 640 555 87 210 33 38 
			 Rwanda 585 300 51 120 21 40 
			 Sierra Leone 1,425 365 26 210 15 58 
			 Somalia 4,180 1,505 36 745 18 50 
			 Sudan 465 370 80 40 9 11 
			 Tanzania 75 65 87 10 13 15 
			 Uganda 640 570 89 70 11 12 
			 Zimbabwe 945 885 94 85 9 10 
			 Others 3,710 3,020 81 480 13 16 
			 Total 17,305 11,330 65 2,720 16 24 
			
			 Asia   
			 Afghanistan 7,175 1,470 20 795 11 54 
			 Bangladesh 555 535 96 165 30 31 
			 China 2,340 2,255 96 595 25 26 
			 India 1,775 1,740 98 790 45 45 
			 Pakistan 2,420 2,260 93 800 33 35 
			 Sri Lanka 6,375 5,215 82 485 8 9 
			 Others 1,340 1,240 93 445 33 36 
			 Total 21,980 14,710 67 4,070 19 28 
			
			 Other and unknown nationalities 825 635 77 140 17 22 
			 Grand total 68,230 51,030 75 12,285 18 24 
		
	
	(29) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest five.
	(30) Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
	(31) May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(32) Provisional

Asylum Seekers

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose asylum seekers will be required to present their application registration cards.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Asylum seekers will not be required to present Application Registration Cards (ARCs) other than for immigration and asylum purposes. They are being introduced to help them identify themselves in order to access Asylum Support services. The current standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) is too open to forgery and counterfeiting.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether employers will be required to check the Application Registration Card of employees they believe to be asylum seekers.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Employers are not currently required to check an asylum seeker's standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) but they must ensure that any person they are proposing to employ has permission to work in this country. Employers who fail to carry out such checks may be committing an offence under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
	The Application Registration Card will be issued to all new asylum seekers. It is not envisaged that it will in itself confer permission to work and a statement to that effect will be on the reverse of the card. Other evidence will have to be provided for employers to check eligibility for employment. However, the card will help the holder to establish his/her identity.

Asylum Seekers

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money per (a) individual and (b) family was allocated to Barnsley metropolitan district council in respect of (i) council housing for asylum seekers and (ii) financial support for asylum seekers in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: In the year from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 Barnsley metropolitan district council received £629,478.62 in grant for supporting asylum seekers, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children. This was based on unit costs of (a) £140 per week per single person and (b) £240 per week for a family. This amount is inclusive of (i) housing and (ii) other support.
	Barnsley is a member of the Yorkshire and Humberside consortium and provides housing under contract to National Asylum Support Service but it is not possible to identify the amounts directly attributable to Barnsley.

Asylum Seekers

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in Barnsley metropolitan borough council are funded by the Government.

Angela Eagle: The available information comes from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) which supports asylum seekers who applied for asylum on or after the 3 April 2000. Information is not available centrally on the number of asylum seekers in Barnsley who are funded by the Government under the Interim Support Scheme.
	Statistics from NASS, for the end of July 2001, show that 160 1 , 2 asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in NASS accommodation in Barnsley.
	A further 150 1 , 2 , asylum seekers (including dependants) were receiving voucher only support from NASS in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, which includes Barnsley.
	1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2 Cases which have had their support ceased are excluded from these figures.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum seekers, and (b) others applying under immigration law whose cases and appeals have failed (i) left the UK voluntarily and (ii) remained in the UK; if he is aware of their whereabouts; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: 550 persons left the United Kingdom under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme in 2000. It is not possible to say how many other persons voluntarily left the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the Home Office, or left voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated.
	Comprehensive information on the number and location of persons who remain in the UK after having exhausted their rights of appeal is not available.

Prison High Security Estate

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the £70 million allocated for new places in the prison high security estate announced in September 2000 has been spent.

Beverley Hughes: The £70 million allocated for new places in the Prison Service High Security estate announced in September 2000 provides funding for the development of new services for those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered (DSPD) over three years. It includes resources for capital costs, for the construction of new units, running costs and support for the development of new approaches to assessment and treatment. These are complex schemes involving major innovation both in design and in the approach to service delivery.
	The initial capital allocation in 2001–02 was £9 million to fund three refurbished units at Whitemoor Prison (and replacement of prison places lost as a result) and the beginning of construction of a new build unit at Frankland Prison. The work at Whitemoor Prison is complete and has incurred a total capital cost of £230,000 together with £4.27 million allocated to the Prison Service for replacement of lost prison places.
	Work at Frankland Prison has been slightly delayed by adverse ground conditions but is projected to incur capital costs of £1 million this year to open on schedule in 2003.
	In 2001–02, £11 million was allocated for running costs and service development work. This was necessarily a rough projection of likely costs because of the ground breaking nature of this work. At this stage we project spending of £5.2 million (with £766,584 spent to date). Any underspend is being reallocated to other key Home Office priorities.

Overstayers

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the processing of applications for indefinite leave to remain in the UK made under the regularisation of overstayers scheme; and when he expects it to be completed.

Angela Eagle: Resources have been invested in the current financial year to identify and process those cases where leave to remain can be granted under existing policy concessions. A dedicated unit within Immigration Casework Directorate (ICD) North has now been trained, and has already sifted and taken action on 600 applications. During the next financial year (2002–03) more caseworkers and resources will be devoted to the consideration of the remaining cases. The target date for the completion of all considerations is April 2003.

Charity Commissioners

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Charity Commissioners and from how many complainants; how many have been fully or partially upheld; how many complaints relating to the Charity Commission have been received by the independent complaints reviewer and from how many complainants; how many have been fully or partially upheld; and if the present pilot complaints procedures are to continue.

Angela Eagle: This is a matter for the Charity Commission, who will write to the hon. Member. A copy of the Commission's reply will be placed in the Library.

Criminal Records Bureau

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau will be launched; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 449W.

Criminal Justice System Reserve

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the Criminal Justice System Reserve has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date; and if he will make a statement about his plans to allocate the reserve in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04.

Keith Bradley: Of the £100 million Criminal Justice System Reserve in 2001–02, £85 million has been allocated to date. Information on spend to date on approved initiatives indicates that full allocations will be spent. In addition £13.75 million has been allocated from the Reserve to approved initiatives in 2002–03 and up to £53.1 million in 2003–04.
	Allocations from the Criminal Justice System Reserve require the joint agreement of the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General prior to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury releasing the money from the Reserve. Bidding guidance for the Criminal Justice System Reserve for 2001–02 and 2002–03 was issued to the three Criminal Justice System Departments in July 2001. Ministers will shortly be recommending to the Chief Secretary further allocations for 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Drug Testing

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimation he has made of the pilot projects on drug testing for detainees in (a) Staffordshire, (b) Hackney and (c) Nottingham.

Bob Ainsworth: Piloting of the provisions for drug testing persons in police detention after charge, introduced under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, began in Staffordshire on 30 July and in Hackney and Nottingham on 17 September. An interim evaluation report is due in spring 2002, with a further interim report in spring 2003 and a final full evaluation report in early 2004.

Correspondence

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the fax from the hon. Member for Poole of 11 September on Leonilla Beck (Ref 16407/1).

Angela Eagle: holding answer 26 October 2001
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member for Poole on 24 October.

Independent Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on the charitable status of independent schools.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The advancement of education is the second of the four main heads of charity and any not-for-profit body that operates an independent school will normally be charitable under this head. The issue of charitable status is being more broadly considered by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit as part of its review of the legal and regulatory framework for voluntary organisations. The review will cover the scope and definition of charity, although it does not have the aim of removing charitable status from any particular type of organisation. The report of the review is due in early 2002.

Independent Schools

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will abolish the charitable status for independent schools.

Angela Eagle: There are no plans to remove charitable status from independent schools. The issue of charitable status is being more broadly considered by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit as part of its review of the legal and regulatory framework for voluntary organisations. The review will cover the scope and definition of charity, although it does not have the aim of removing charitable status from any particular type of organisation such as independent schools. The report of the review is due in early 2002.

National Asylum Support Service

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by NASS in respect of sub-standard accommodation provided for asylum seekers since April 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Since April 2000 the housing management team of National Asylum Support Service has received 347 complaints about sub-standard accommodation. These complaints relate to both housing conditions and management. The complaints are from a range of sources including asylum seekers themselves or their legal representatives as well as voluntary and public sector organisations acting on their behalf.
	All complaints received by the housing management team are registered, investigated and monitored. The team liaises as necessary with other agencies such as local authorities and refugee organisations in dealing with complaints.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many part 8 reviews have been carried out by the Metropolitan police on incidents of domestic violence since the inception of the system.

John Denham: When a child dies, and abuse or neglect are known or suspected to be a factor in the death, local agencies should consider whether there are lessons to be learned from the tragedy about the ways in which they work together to safeguard children. Consequently, when a child dies in such circumstances, the area child protection committee should always conduct a review into the involvement with the child and family of agencies and professionals.
	Additionally, the area child protection committee should always consider whether to undertake a serious case review where a child has sustained a potentially life-threatening injury through abuse or neglect, serious sexual abuse, or sustained serious and permanent impairment of health or development through abuse or neglect, and the case gives rise to concerns about the way in which local professionals and services work together to safeguard children.
	The Metropolitan police service does not carry out serious case reviews themselves, but like any other agency, they may be asked to undertake a management review of its involvement with a child and family as part of the case review process.
	The conduct of such reviews is the responsibility of the area child protection committee for the area in which the child, who is the subject of the review, was normally resident.
	In five serious case reviews to which the Metropolitan police service has contributed, a history of domestic violence between the carers prior to the death of a child has been identified.

Extradition

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people accused of capital crimes have been extradited to the USA since 11 May 1997; and under what arrangements.

Bob Ainsworth: The availability of the death penalty has been an issue in only one of 34 surrenders to the United States since 1997. In that case, the fugitive was surrendered following an assurance from the United States authorities that the death penalty would neither be sought nor applied. That is consistent with the UK/US Extradition Treaty (United States of America (Extradition) Order 1976 as amended by the United States of America (Extradition) (Amendment) Order 1986) which provides that extradition may be refused unless the requesting party gives satisfactory assurances that the death penalty will not be carried out.

Political Asylum

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied when deciding whether an unsuccessful applicant for political asylum should be granted exceptional leave to remain; and how many people have been granted such exceptional leave since June 1997.

Angela Eagle: Exceptional leave is a discretionary grant of limited leave made by the Home Secretary. Every case is considered on its own individual merits and exceptional leave is normally granted only after an asylum application has been substantively considered and it has been decided to refuse the application.
	Exceptional leave may be granted for a wide number of reasons but is mainly granted for compassionate or humanitarian reasons or where there is a specific government policy or concession. Exceptional leave is also granted where removal from the United Kingdom would breach our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).
	Exceptional leave is granted for limited periods, normally up to four years. After four years, an applicant may apply for settlement in the United Kingdom.
	Our current statistical records run from June 1997 to July 2001. During this period, 46,215 people were granted exceptional leave, of which 14,110 were granted under the post July 1993 backlog clearance measures.

Political Asylum

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of applications for political asylum came from people who have already been living in the United Kingdom for at least six months.

Angela Eagle: The requested information is unavailable because data on applicants' dates of entry to the United Kingdom are not currently collected. The majority of applicants apply for asylum in-country rather than at ports.

Motoring Offences

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in the county of Essex for (a) serious motoring offences and (b) speeding by motor vehicles in (i) each full year since 1994 and (ii) the nine months to September 2001.

Keith Bradley: Available information is given in the table. Data for 2000 will be available later this year. 2001 data will be available in the autumn 2002.
	
		Proceedings at magistrates courts for serious motoring offences(33) and speeding by offence group within Essex police force area, 1994–99 -- Number of offences
		
			 Offence group/type 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Serious motoring offences(33)   
			 1—Causing death or bodily harm 13 8 16 30 15 9 
			 2—Dangerous driving 264 252 291 274 293 240 
			 6—Unauthorised taking or theft of motor vehicle 1,123 811 1,061 957 954 1,108 
			 14—Fraud, forgery etc. associated with vehicle or driver records 689 541 405 511 427 373 
			  
			 Total 2,089 1,612 1,773 1,772 1,689 1,730 
			
			 Speeding   
			 16—Speed limit offences 8,130 6,354 6,528 5,457 5,132 7,019 
		
	
	(33) 'Serious motoring offences' includes those motoring offences which are indictable only or triable either way.

Joint Enterprise Charges

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to propose amendments to the law in respect of serious charges involving joint enterprise.

Keith Bradley: There are no plans to change the Law on Joint Enterprise at present. However, the Law Commission is conducting a major review of the whole area of inchoate offences and secondary liability, which will include this area.

National Criminal Intelligence Service

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the (a) size and (b) caseload of the National Criminal Intelligence Service and its predecessor bodies in each year since 1997.

John Denham: The information is as follows:
	(a) The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) establishment in April (except where specified) each year since 1997 has been:
	1997: 637
	1998: 637
	1999: 683 (June)
	2000: 787
	2001: 900 (August).
	(b) The National Criminal Intelligence Service does not have an operational caseload. NCIS provides strategic intelligence; maintains intelligence reports on serious criminals for all law enforcement agencies; co-ordinates the activity of law enforcement agencies; conducts some intelligence investigations on behalf of law enforcement agencies; provides specialist advice and a range of other support functions. There is no single case record system.

Parliamentary Questions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 3 October 2001 to the hon. Member for Crosby (refs. 9417, 9418 and 9419), when he will provide a substantive reply.

John Denham: I replied to my hon. Friend on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 853W.

Young Offenders (Education)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per week on average have been spent on education courses by those serving custodial sentences of compulsory school age in each year since 1995.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available. Data on prison education participation do not distinguish between those of, and those above, compulsory school age. Prison Service Order 4950 states that education must be provided to all young offenders under school-leaving age for at least 15 hours per week.

Prisoners (Depression)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners were identified as suffering from clinical depression at the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not available in precisely the form requested. A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, was undertaken by the Office for National Statistics in 1997. Some 56 per cent. of remanded men and 64 per cent. of remanded women reported to a lay interviewer, applying a recognised tool for diagnosing neurotic symptoms and depression, that they had experienced certain recognised symptoms of depression for more than two weeks prior to interview. The comparable figures for sentenced men and women were 33 per cent. and 51 per cent. respectively.

Prison Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison inmates were assessed as having literacy and numeracy skills below level 2 at the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Figures for September 2001 show that of those prisoners tested on induction, 71 per cent. and 65 per cent. respectively were assessed as having literacy and numeracy skills below level 2.
	The Prison Service has in place targets for 23,400 prisoners to achieve national qualifications in 2001–2002 rising to 36,000 in 2003–2004. This includes a planned increase in the number of Level 2 basic skills awards to 21,000 over the period. In addition, targets have been agreed for the current year with the Adult Basic Skill Strategy for qualifications below Level 2 in Basic Skills: 7,500 qualifications at Entry Level and 7,500 qualifications at Level 1.

Prison Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to (a) collect and (b) publish data on the average time spent in prison education classes by prisoners in private sector prisons.

Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service collects data on the average time spent on purposeful activity, including education, in all prisons including those run by the private sector. National statistics are published in the annual "Prison Statistics, England and Wales". Figures for different categories of prison are not published separately. I will write to my hon. Friend about education in private sector prisons.

Prisoners (Special Educational Needs)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the number of prisoners in each of Her Majesty's prisons with special educational needs.

Beverley Hughes: No reliable information is available on the total number of prisoners with special education needs. The Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit located in the Department for Education and Skills is implementing new procedures to collect this kind of information.

Young Offenders (Penalties)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consultations he has had regarding reducing penalties in youth courts for (a) criminal damage (b) shoplifting and (c) offences involving airguns.

Keith Bradley: None. We have not reduced the penalties or propose doing so.

Young Offenders (Penalties)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the tariff of penalties in youth courts for criminal damage offences.

Keith Bradley: Sentencers in the youth court have discretion within the statutory framework laid down by Parliament. The maximum penalty for criminal damage above £5,000 is a two-year Detention and Training Order. Below that a range of non-custodial orders is available. These were enhanced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Penalty Downgrading

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Judicial Studies Board with regard to downgrading penalties issued by magistrates for low seriousness offences.

Keith Bradley: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Judicial Studies Board regarding the downgrading of penalties issued by magistrates for low seriousness offences. However, Lord Justice Auld's Report 'Review of the Criminal Courts of England And Wales' recommended that there should be a systematic review leading to fixed penalty and/or notice-to-correct schemes for a wider range of infringements than are presently the subject of criminal prosecution. Lord Justice Auld's report is currently out to a public consultation. Officials in the relevant departments are also considering these recommendations. An assessment of the feasibility of taking them forward will be made after a full consultation.

HEALTH

Heart Transplants

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take into account the implications of the Bristol inquiry report before making further decisions on the national specialist commissionary advisory group report;
	(2)  what the terms of reference were of the national specialist commissionary advisory group report into the future of heart transplant units; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

John Hutton: We have published our intention to keep all six cardiothoracic transplant centres open in the discussion document "National Adult Heart and Lung Transplant Service" published on 21 September. We will receive comments on these proposals until 7 December.
	The report by the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory group was an internal Department of Health paper. However reference to the paper is included in discussion document the "National Adult Heart and Lung Transplant service".
	We are still considering our response to the Bristol Inquiry Report.

Small Birthing Units

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will allocate funds to increase the number of small birthing units, led by midwives in hospitals without a maternity unit; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The National Health Service provides a variety of types of care for women during pregnancy and childbirth including care in midwife-led births units. We expect this variety to continue and do not support any one single model of maternity service provision in preference to all others. It is for health authorities and NHS trusts to decide on the pattern of service provision taking into account the needs of local service users, evidence of effectiveness and available resources.

Community Equipment Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what system is used to allocate budgets for community equipment services to local NHS trusts and social services departments. [R]

Jacqui Smith: National Health Service and social services community equipment services have their funding determined locally. Additional funding being made available to enable them to meet the NHS Plan targets is allocated through health authority allocations and local council personal social services spending assessments.

Community Equipment Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts and social services departments that have received funds from the community equipment services budget this financial year. [R]

Jacqui Smith: In addition to pre-existing levels of funding for community equipment services by health and social services, all National Health Service health authorities received additional funding for community equipment services in their general allocations in 2001–02. Where authorities have identified that additional funding is required, they will have allocated it to the appropriate organisation running the equipment service which may be an NHS trust, a primary care group or a social services department. Similarly, all local councils with personal social services received allocations from which they are expected to contribute not just previous funding but an increased amount towards achieving the community equipment services targets in the NHS Plan.

Community Equipment Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the national budget is for community equipment services for the 2001–02 financial year. [R]

Jacqui Smith: £12 million has been allocated nationally to support the National Health Service to work towards achieving the NHS Plan targets in relation to community equipment services. We also took account of the need for additional investment in the personal social services settlement for 2001–02 to 2003–04 to enable councils to contribute an appropriate share to the expansion of these services. These amounts are in addition to pre-existing local funding for equipment services.

Dentists

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what levels of investment have been made and what initiatives have been taken to promote access to NHS dentists in Shropshire since 1997.

Hazel Blears: In 2000–01 dentists within Shropshire health authority received £9.66 million for providing general dental services.
	Shropshire health authority also received £414,000 in 2000–01 to develop a dental access centre (DAC) and £80,000 from the Dental Care Development Fund to promote access to NHS dentistry. The DAC now operates from Shrewsbury, Donnington, Oswestry and Market Drayton and two further sites opening shortly in Ludlow and Craven Arms.
	In addition £409,000 has been awarded for 11 "Investing in Dentistry" approvals leading so far to 24,800 additional patient registrations.
	The connection between NHS Direct and NHS dentistry is now up and running and all callers to NHS Direct should now be able to get information about where they can find an NHS dentist.

Dentists

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment is planned to promote access to NHS dentistry in Shropshire.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the investment planned to promote access to National Health Service dentistry in Shropshire for 2001–02.
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 Local personal dental service funds: 50,000 
			 Modernisation fund: 207,000 
			 Dental care development fund: 50,000 
			 Quality assurance (to implement clinical governance) 17,000 
		
	
	In addition, the anticipated spend on the Shropshire Dental Access Centre in 2001–02 is £656,000 revenue and £33,000 capital. The exact level of expenditure may vary depending on the opening date of the two new sites, in Ludlow and Craven Arms, and the numbers of patients needed in year.
	Following changes in Regulations it is now possible for health authorities to use their own resources to respond to local patterns of unmet demand for NHS dentistry identified in their dentistry action plans.

Social Services Departments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the methodology used to calculate the top and bottom 14 social services departments as set out in the publication of Social Services Performance Assessment Framework Indicators 2000–01 on 19 October.

Jacqui Smith: The methodology used to rank social services departments was as follows:
	A council was classified as one of the best performing if:
	it was in the top one third of councils based on the proportion of indicators banded three or higher this year; and
	had on average three quarters or more of its indicators banded as three or higher over the past three years.
	There were 15 councils in this category.
	A council was classified as one of the least well performing if:
	it was in the bottom third of councils based on the proportion of indicators banded three or higher this year; and
	had on average 55 per cent. or less of its indicators banded as three or higher over the past three years.
	There were 14 councils in this category.
	Banding of the performance indicators was introduced last year to help clarify what level of performance is generally good in relation to a performance indicator. Bands range from "investigate urgently" to "very good". Band three represents a council performing at a level which is "acceptable but with possible room for improvement".

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what private finance initiative projects in mental health services have (a) been given approval and (b) had contracts signed since 1 May 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows the number of private finance initiative projects in mental health services which have been given approval and had contracts signed since 1 May 1997.
	
		
			  Trust  Project description Date full business case approval given Date financial close reached 
		
		
			 Bay Community NHS Trust New Mentally Ill Unit 25 September 1998 30 September 1998 
			 Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust Reprovision of accommodation for people with learning disabilities 12 February 1999 17 May 1999 
			 Black Country Mental Health NHS Trust Mental Health Unit 6 October 1998 8 October 1998 
			 Bradford Community Health NHS Trust Horton Park Centre—range of primary and community services including medical centres for GP practices, rehabilitation centre and Mental Health resource centre 26 November 1998 15 March 1999 
			 Central Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust Learning disability/Mental Health team base 30 March 2000 15 May 2000 
			 Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust Elderly Mental Health Services and Mental Health Rehabilitation Services 14 September 2001 17 September 2001 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust Mental Health reprovision 10 August 2000 30 July 2000 
			 Enfield Community Care NHS Trust Elderly/Mentally Ill home 7 May 2000 9 May 2000 
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services, High Royds 28 February 2000 24 January 2001 
			 Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust Mental health unit 15 August 2000 24 January 2001 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health facilities 29 November 1999 8 December 1999 
			 Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health facilities 9 August 2000 10 August 2000 
			 Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust Mental Health Medium Secure Unit 1 June 1998 1 June 1998 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health 4 December 1998 11 December 1998 
			 Redbridge Health Care NHS Trust Mental Health Reprovision and Geriatric Day Centre 27 June 2000 4 July 2000 
			 Rotherham Priority Health Service NHS Trust Elderly Mental Health 19 March 1997 15 May 1998 
			 Stockport NHS Trust New Mentally Ill Unit 18 September 1998 10 October 1999 
			 Thames Gateway NHS Trust Acute Psychiatric—Stonehouse Hospital 14 December 1998 14 December 1998 
			 West Berkshire Priority Care Services NHS Trust Prospect Park mental health redevelopment 1 February 2001 2 May 2001

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the occupancy rate of NHS mental health beds, excluding day only, is in each London hospital.

Jacqui Smith: The latest data available are for 2000–01 and are shown in the table.
	The data are collected annually at national health service trust level, rather than by individual hospital site.
	
		
			 NHS Trust(34) Available beds Occupied beds Occupancy rate (Percentage) 
		
		
			 2000–01
			 Barnet Community Health Care 207 187 90.5 
			 BHB Community Health 245 223 91.3 
			 Brent, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health 732 621 84.8 
			 Camden and Islington Community Health Service 358 352 98.2 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health 567 543 95.8 
			 East London and the City Mental Health 514 480 93.4 
			 Enfield Community Care 262 244 93.1 
			 Forest Healthcare 213 190 89.0 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 8 6 77.1 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals 72 65 90.4 
			 Haringey Healthcare 240 235 98.1 
			 Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare 83 81 97.7 
			 Hillingdon Hospital 116 109 93.9 
			 Hounslow and Spelthorne Community and Mental Health 164 162 98.8 
			 Kingston and District Community 308 289 94.0 
			 Oxleas and District Community 391 354 90.7 
			 Redbridge Healthcare 245 203 83.2 
			 Royal Free Hampstead 122 114 93.4 
			 South London and Maudsley 947 916 96.7 
			 South West London and St George's Mental Health 595 541 90.9 
			 University College of London 13 10 75.2 
		
	
	(34) Pre April 2001 Trust Configurations

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking (a) to promote mental health and (b) to encourage people to seek help at an early stage, among those from an ethnic minority background.

Jacqui Smith: We have asked local health and social services to ensure that by March 2002, as required by Standard One of the National Service Framework for Mental Health, they develop and agree an evidence-based mental health promotion strategy based on an assessment of local needs which incorporates action to reduce discrimination. In August 2001, the Department issued to local services "Making it Happen: a guide to delivering mental health promotion". The document recognises the need to promote mental health for ethnic minority groups and it includes examples of good practice including working with Asian communities and assessing the needs of refugee children.
	The mental health taskforce is preparing a draft strategy, which we expect will be launched for consultation in spring 2002, to promote more accessible and appropriate services for people from black and ethnic minorities.
	The Department also plans to commission the development of a toolkit to support mental health services in promoting mental health for people from ethnic minority communities.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health carer support workers have been recruited in accordance with the NHS Plan.

Jacqui Smith: The NHS Plan set a target for 2004 that 700 more staff will be recruited to increase the breaks available for carers and to strengthen carer support networks. In pursuance of this target, all regular carers of people with mental health problems will have been identified, received an assessment and have their own care support plans by April 2004. By June 2004, local support networks for these carers will have been developed. The statutory and voluntary sector currently provide support to carers, and the Department is currently developing a service specification for carers support services against which we will measure progress.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of levels of major depression and self-harm in children; and if he will make a statement on recent trends.

Jacqui Smith: In August this year the Office for National Statistics reported on the prevalence rates of self-harm (defined for the purposes of the report as any attempt to harm, hurt or kill themselves) among children and adolescents aged five to 15 in England, Scotland and Wales during the first half of 1999. The report represents a secondary analysis of data originally collected for the national survey of the mental health of young people published in March 2000.
	The main findings were that, according to parents, approximately 1.3 per cent. of the sampled five to 10-year-olds had ever tried to harm, hurt or kill themselves. The rate of self-harm among those with no mental disorder was 0.8 per cent. but the rate increased significantly to 6.2 per cent. among young children with an anxiety disorder and 7.5 per cent. for those with conduct/hyperkinetic disorder. However there was no recorded link with depressive disorder in this age group.
	According to parents, approximately 2.1 per cent. of the sample of 11 to 15-year-olds had ever tried to harm, hurt or kill themselves. The rate of self-harm among 11 to 15-year-olds with no mental disorder was 1.2 per cent. but the rate rose markedly to 9.4 per cent. of those with anxiety disorders, 12.6 per cent. of those with a conduct disorder and 18.8 per cent. of young people with depression.
	As was the case with younger children, the prevalence of self-harm among 11 to 15-year-olds was influenced by factors relating to family constitution, exposure to discord and frequency of punishment, and, most significantly, the number of stressful life events.
	At present there is no firm information on trends but it is believed that the prevalence of mental health problems among children and young people has increased over recent decades, both in this country and in the rest of western Europe.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the prevalence of mental illness is in children; and if he will make a statement setting out his assessment of recent trends.

Jacqui Smith: A survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain was carried out in 1999 by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department, the Scottish Health Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. The intention was to provide up-to-date baseline information on the prevalence of mental disorders among five to 15-year-olds. Prevalence rates were produced for the three main categories of mental disorder, for example, conduct disorders, hyperactivity and emotional disorders.
	Key findings on prevalence were about 10 per cent. of children aged five to 15 in Great Britain had a mental disorder in 1999, 5 per cent. had conduct disorders (e.g. aggressive and antisocial behaviour), 4 per cent. had emotional disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression) and 1 per cent. were hyperkinetic (inattention, over-activity); and mental disorders were significantly more common in boys than girls in both the five to 10 and the 11 to 15-year-old age groups.
	At present there is no firm information on trends, but it is believed that the prevalence of mental ill-health among children and young people has increased over recent decades, both in this country and in the rest of western Europe. It is the intention to repeat the original survey in approximately five years in order to detect any changes in prevalence over time.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued in 2000–01 for medicines used to treat mental illness.

Jacqui Smith: The number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England for the treatment of mental illness during the financial year ending 31 March 2001 is given in the table.
	Information about the diagnosis for which the drugs were prescribed is not available. Drugs used to treat mental illness have therefore been defined as those within British National Formulary (BNF) paragraphs hypnotics and anxiolytics (4.1), drugs used in psychoses and related disorders ( 4.2) and antidepressant drugs (4.3).
	
		Prescription items dispensed in the community for treatment of mental illness for the year ending 31 March 2001, England
		
			  Prescription items (thousand)  
			 BNF description Number 
		
		
			 4.1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 16,561 
			 4.1.1 Hypnotics 10,677 
			 —Benzodiazepine 7,112 
			 —Chloral and derivative 179 
			 —Other hypnotics 3,386 
			 4.1.2 Anxiolytics 5,826 
			 —Benzodiazepine 5,722 
			 —Other anxiolytics 104 
			 4.1.3 Barbiturates 58 
			   
			 4.2 Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 5,857 
			 4.2.1 Antipsychotic drugs 4,920 
			 4.2.2 Antipsychotic depot injections 216 
			 4.2.3 Antimanic drugs 722 
			   
			 4.3 Antidepressant drugs 22,634 
			 4.3.1 Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs 9,722 
			 —Tricyclic antidepressants 9,233 
			 —Related antidepressants 489 
			 4.3.2 Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 96 
			 4.3.3 SSRIs 10,884 
			 4.3.4 Other antidepressant drugs 1,932 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The therapeutic classifications are based on British National Formulary, Number 40 (September 2000).
	2. These data are based on items dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis system.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were formally admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01.

Jacqui Smith: The Department collects and publishes information annually relating to patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 on: admissions to hospitals under the Act by section of the Act; sex and category of disorder as defined and required under the Act; changes in patient's legal status while in hospital; and patients in hospital at the end of the year, by sex and category of disorder.
	The latest data are published by the Department, in a statistical bulletin "In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation, England: 1989–1990 to 1999–2000". The National Assembly for Wales published a separate statistical report entitled "Admission of patients to mental health facilities in Wales, 1999–00 (including patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983)". Both publications are available in the Library.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of those admitted to psychiatric wards who come from ethnic minority backgrounds; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Certain ethnic minorities, especially black ethnic groups, are over-represented in psychiatric care. While there are demographic and socio-economic factors which can partly account for over-representation of black ethnic groups, these cannot explain all of the disparity.
	Due to this disparity and the acknowledgement that mental health services are not fully meeting the needs of ethnic minorities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton), when Minister of State with responsibility for community health, asked the mental health taskforce to prepare a strategy to address the issues surrounding black and minority ethnic mental health. A taskforce member, Professor Sashidharan, is taking forward the development of a draft strategy under the guidance of the ethnicity and mental health reference group. We expect consultation papers on the draft strategy to be issued in spring 2002.

Mental Health Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the annual number of people with a diagnosis of severe mental illness who are refused treatment when they ask for it.

Jacqui Smith: Our policy is that nobody with severe mental illness who asks for treatment should be refused. The National Service Framework for Mental Health (NSF), published in September 1999, spells out national standards for mental health. The NSF contains seven overarching standards, two of which are specifically about the provision of effective services for people with severe mental illness. The standards aim to ensure that each person with severe mental illness receives the range of mental health services they need
	In addition, the NHS Plan, published in July 2000, contains a number of commitments relating to the provision of services for people with severe mental illness. These include the establishment of crisis resolution and early intervention teams, and an increase in the number of assertive outreach teams.

Special Hospitals

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places there were in the special hospitals at (a) Ashworth, (b) Broadmoor and (c) Rampton (i) in 1996–97 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		
			   Contracted places  
			   1996–97 October 2001 
		
		
			 Ashworth Hospital 500 427 
			 Broadmoor Hospital 443 408 
			 Rampton Hospital 448 430 
			  
			 Total 1,391 1,265 
		
	
	The reduction in contracted places reflects our policy that patients inappropriately placed in the high security hospitals should be moved to more appropriate accommodation.

Electro-convulsive Therapy

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ECT treatments were administered in 2000–01.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available. The most recent information available is contained in a one-off survey covering the period from January 1999 to March 1999, England only, that was undertaken to provide an up to date and accurate snapshot picture of the use of electro-convulsive treatment (ECT). Prior to this survey, the information previously recorded on ECT did not provide an accurate picture on the use of ECT treatment.
	The results of the survey are contained in the Department of Health Statistical bulletin "Electro- convulsive Therapy: Survey covering the period from January 1999 to March 1999, England", a copy of which is in the Library.
	The Department is hoping that more useful and reliable information on ECT will be obtained from the mental health minimum data set which is person-centred. It is being implemented across all mental health trusts on a phased basis during 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 but data will not be available until 2003.

Diabetes

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the original date was for the introduction of the national standard framework for diabetes; what it is now; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Diabetes National Service Framework is due for publication this year. It will be published in two stages—the Diabetes National Service Framework Standards this autumn and the Diabetes National Service Framework delivery strategy next summer. This will enable the National Health Service to prepare to plan for implementation from April 2003.

Head Injury Rehabilitation

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the Health Committee report entitled "Head Injury: Rehabilitation".

Jacqui Smith: The response was laid before Parliament on 24 July. The response is called, "Government Response to the Health Select Committee: Inquiry into Head Injury Rehabilitation, (Command Paper 5226.)" The response is also on the Department's website at "www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/longterm.htm."

Nurses

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses (a) returned to and (b) left the NHS in (i) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01.

John Hutton: The work force censuses record the net change in the work force taking account of the number who leave and the number who start work, including newly qualified staff, returners and nurses trained outside the United Kingdom. In 1999 there were 329,640 nurses working in the National Health Service and in 2000 there were 335,950.
	Between 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000, 3,405 former nurses returned to work in the NHS. Between 1 October 2000 and 30 September, 2001 3,906 former nurses returned to work in the NHS.

Treatment Abroad

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the arrangements to be in place for NHS patients to travel abroad for their operations when they live outside a pilot site.

John Hutton: Following recent rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) it is clear that National Health Service bodies may commission treatment for NHS patients in other countries in the European Economic Area. However, this does raise a number of clinical, legal and quality issues. Officials are working through these issues with NHS colleagues in three test-bed sites, East Kent, Portsmouth and West Sussex/East Surrey, with the aim, if possible, of sending the first patients overseas for treatment by the end of the year. The Department will publish guidance for the rest of the NHS in England by the end of the year, based on the experience of the test-bed sites.
	The Department also intends to establish through an open tendering process a list of approved foreign providers to assist primary care trusts planning to commission treatment abroad. It will take a number of months to put this in place.
	Patients throughout the United Kingdom can already apply to travel overseas for treatment under the long- standing E112 scheme. This is of course subject to prior authorisation.

Treatment Abroad

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if primary care trusts have the option to secure treatment for NHS patients in other European countries;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the requirements for funding primary care trusts to support the European Court of Justice ruling of receiving NHS treatment abroad.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Following recent rulings of the European Court of Justice it is clear that National Health Service bodies, including primary care trusts, may commission treatment for NHS patients in other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).
	It will be for local commissioners to decide whether or not to contract with health care providers in other EEA countries. Primary care trusts (PCTs) will need to meet the costs out of their budgets.
	This is a new opportunity and freedom for PCTs. There is no requirement for PCTs to make use of this opportunity and it will remain a matter for local commissioners to decide how to use their budgets.

Treatment Abroad

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money is being made available to support the initiative to reduce waiting lists through the funding of operations for UK citizens in other European countries.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Following recent rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) it is clear that National Health Service bodies may commission treatment for NHS patients in other countries in the European Economic Area.
	It will be for local commissioners to decide whether or not to contract with health care providers in other EEA countries. Primary care trusts in England will need to meet the costs out of their budgets.
	The decision to commission treatment for patients from Northern Ireland elsewhere in the European Economic Area is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Professor David Southall

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to the NHS of locums to cover the duties of Professor David Southall during his two year suspension.

John Hutton: The Department collects information quarterly in regard to the suspension of hospital medical and dental staff and costs incurred, including the cost of locum cover. The most recently available return is for October 2001, and indicates that the North Staffordshire Hospital National Health Service Trust has incurred costs of £284,258 in regard to the suspension of Professor Southall.

Cancer Referrals

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the guidelines for the referral of patients with suspected cancer for an appointment within two weeks to include patients with atypical symptoms.

John Hutton: Cancer referral guidelines were issued in March 2000 to help general practitioners identify possible signs and symptoms of cancer and to refer appropriately. For some cancer types, for example, lung cancer and breast cancer atypical symptoms were included on the advice of the members of the relevant tumour working parties who helped to draw up the guidelines. A review of the guidelines will be undertaken by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. All National Health Service trusts have been encouraged to work with primary care to audit referrals against the guidelines. The Department will shortly be announcing research projects to help inform decision making and the identification of patients with suspected cancer requiring referral.

GP Visits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the population who regularly visit their general practitioner for each of the last 10 years.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The information is not collected in the form requested. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes an estimate of the proportion of the population of Great Britain who consult a general practitioner within a 14 day period in their report "Living in Britain—Results from the General Household Survey". The table shows the estimate for each year for which figures are available from 1988.
	
		
			  Year Percentage consulted GP in last 14 days 
		
		
			 1988 14 
			 1989 15 
			 1990 16 
			 1991 14 
			 1992 15 
			 1993 17 
			 1994 15 
			 1995 16 
			 1996 16 
			 1998 14 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS "Living in Britain—Results from the General Household Survey"
	The survey was not carried out in 1997 or 1999 and the report for 2000 is expected in December.

New Hospital (Romford)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the new hospital planned for Oldchurch Park, Romford.

John Hutton: Excellent progress has been made on this scheme since its national prioritisation in July 1999. The new hospital is still planned to be complete and operational in autumn 2005.

GM Crops

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the safety of genetically modified crops grown for human consumption.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 November 2001
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that all genetically modified crops approved for human consumption in the European Union following a rigorous safety assessment are considered as safe to eat as their non-modified counterparts.

Coquetdale Hospital

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects work to start on the Coquetdale Hospital redevelopment at Rothbury, Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 November 2001
	As negotiations on the site for the new Coquetdale Community Hospital at Rothbury are continuing, at this stage we are unable to give a date by which construction work will have commenced.

Residential Nursing Homes

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 159W, how many residential nursing homes have closed and beds been lost in Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1 May 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 November 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 159–60W. The figures are for England only. Figures for other parts of the United Kingdom are matters for the devolved Assemblies.

Residential Nursing Homes

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 159-60W, which client groups have been included in the figures provided in written answers N115 and N113 tables 1 and 2.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The number of residential care homes, residential places in these homes and year on year changes, refer to the adult and older people client groups of: older people; younger physically/sensorily disabled adults; older mentally infirm adults; people with mental illness; people with learning disabilities and alcohol/drug misusers and other people. For residential care homes, information on client groups is based on the principal client group of the homes as defined for registration purposes and not of the client group of the places.
	The number of nursing homes, registered nursing beds and year-on-year changes refers to all those available and includes those intended for children, older people, younger adults and for maternity usage and all of the primary registration categories. For nursing care homes, the allocation of homes and places is based on a combination of primary registration category (general nursing, people with learning disabilities, specialist nursing, maternity, mental health nursing, specialist mental health nursing, general specialities and other) and intended use (children, older person, other person).
	Information by client group is available in the publications "Community Care Statistics 2000: Residential Personal Social Services for adults" and "Community Care Statistics 2000: Private Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Clinics". Copies of these publications are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0028.htm and sb0107.htm respectively.

Residential Nursing Homes

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his written answers of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 159-60W, whether the figures provided include small residential homes of less than four beds.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 November 2001
	The figures include residential care homes (and places) for small homes, defined as homes with less than four places, registered under the Registered Homes (Amendment) Act 1991.

Residential Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds his Department allocated to local authorities for the uprating of the capital limit for residential care.

Jacqui Smith: Adequate provision was made in the personal social services expenditure settlement for 2001–02 to cover the costs of uprating the capital limits from April 2001 to restore them to their 1996 value.

Specialist Register

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he has received concerning the ending of the transition period for entry of non-consultant career grades to the specialist register; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representation he has received on behalf of associate specialists within the National Health Service in relation to their inclusion on the specialist register.

John Hutton: We have received a number of representations from medical professional bodies and from individual members of the profession on these issues.
	As laid down in the NHS Plan, we are committed to increasing the number of consultants working in the National Health Service and it is important all available resources are harnessed. We are fully aware there is a pool of doctors within the non-consultant grades with the potential to become consultants. We are committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on the career progression of these doctors to ensure each is given the appropriate opportunity to demonstrate his or her potential.

NHS (Suspensions)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) NHS consultants, (b) general practitioners, (c) public health doctors and (d) managers presently suspended, indicating the durations of the suspensions; and what plans he has to shorten the length of these suspensions.

John Hutton: In the quarter ended 30 September 2001, a total of 33 hospital doctors and dentists had been suspended for six months or longer. The information is not broken down as between consultants and public health doctors. Information is not collected centrally on managers. Currently, three general practitioners are suspended by the National Health Service Tribunal. New procedures and guidance are being developed which should reduce both the incidence and length of suspensions. In addition, NHS employers will be able to seek advice from the National Clinical Assessment Authority.
	The NHS Tribunal is due to be abolished in December 2001. Health authorities (and later primary care trusts) will then be able to suspend or remove general practitioners from their lists where appropriate. Time limits will be applied to these suspensions.

Suicide

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for completion of the national suicide prevention strategy.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Department is in the process of developing, under the direction of the National Director for Mental Health, Professor Louis Appleby, a coherent national suicide prevention strategy to ensure that we are doing all we can to prevent suicides. We hope to launch this strategy in spring 2002.

Private Health Care Provision

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the involvement of the private sector in the provision of health care; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear on 24 October in his evidence to the Health Select Committee, the Department is working to improve collaboration between the National Health Service and the private sector. There are five aspects to this collaboration. First, £40 million is being made available to the NHS to buy treatment for NHS patients in the private sector over the coming months. Secondly, officials are working on a national framework agreement to build longer term relationships between the NHS and the private sector with a view to doubling the number of NHS patients treated in private hospitals to 100,000 a year from next year. Thirdly, the Department is exploring the possibility of contracts under which part of or indeed even entire private hospitals would become NHS providers of services for a number of years. Fourthly, Ministers will consider approaches from private sector providers to build privately owned diagnostic treatment centres which will perform operations purely on NHS patients. And finally we are exploring whether private sector providers in mainland Europe have spare capacity available to treat NHS patients. Three sites in south-east England are providing a test-bed for this new policy.

PFI Hospitals

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many major hospital developments have been authorised under the Private Finance Initiative; how many of these are (a) completed and (b) nearing completion; what plans exist for expanding the number of these developments; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The table shows the major hospital developments which have been approved to go ahead under the private finance initiative. There are currently no plans to approve any further waves of major PFI schemes.
	
		Major capital schemes approved to go ahead since May 1997—England
		
			  Regional office  Scheme Capital value (£ million) 
		
		
			  PFI schemes reached financial close which are completed: 
			 South East Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 94 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust 65 
			 South East South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 45 
			 London Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 93 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 
			 Northern and Yorkshire North Durham Health Care NHS Trust 61 
			 North West South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust 66 
			 Eastern Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust 158 
			 8 Total PFI Schemes at Financial Close which are completed 647 
			   
			  PFI schemes reached financial close and under construction: 
			 London Bromley Healthcare NHS Trust 118 
			 London Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 
			 West Midlands Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 87 
			 West Midlands Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 
			 Northern and Yorkshire South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust 41 
			 Northern and Yorkshire South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 122 
			 South West Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 96 
			 London King's Healthcare NHS Trust 64 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Leeds Community and Mental Health services Teaching NHS Trust 47 
			 London St. George's Hospital NHS Trust 49 
			 London University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 404 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 
			 London West Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust 60 
			 West Midlands Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 137 
			 South East Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 
			 15 Total PFI Schemes reached Financial Close with work started on site 1,395 
			 23 Total PFI Schemes Reached Financial Close with work started on site or completed 2,042 
			 PFI Schemes approved to proceed and out to tender 
			 South West Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust 32 
			 North West Central Manchester Healthcare/Manchester Childrens Hospitals NHS Trusts 199 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals/Newcastle City Health NHS Trusts 124 
			 West Midlands University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire/Coventry Healthcare NHS Trusts 178 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 125 
			 South East Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 95 
			 London Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 156 
			 South East Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 121 
			 North West Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust 61 
			 Trent Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 177 
			   
			  PFI Schemes approved to proceed but not yet out to tender: 
			 London Barts and The London NHS Trust 620 
			 West Midlands University Hospital Birmingham/South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trusts 291 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 116 
			 South West Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust 68 
			 London North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 56 
			 South East East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 102 
			 Trent University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 286 
			 London Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 44 
			 Eastern Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 135 
			 North West Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trusts 114 
			 South East Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells/Invicta Community Care NHS Trusts 175 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Pinderfield and Pontefract Hospitals/Wakefield and Pontefract Community/Dewsbury Health Care NHS Trusts 164 
			 London Whipps Cross Hospitals NHS Trust 184 
			 South East Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 28 
			 South West United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 104 
			 Trent Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 66 
			 London Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 41 
			 Eastern Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust 80 
			 Eastern Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 79 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 39 
			 London North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust 73 
			 West Midlands North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trusts 224 
			 South West Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust 101 
			 North West St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 211 
			 West Midlands Walsall Hospitals/Walsall Community Health NHS Trusts 43 
			 London Paddington Basin 460 
			 West Midlands Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 110 
			 South East Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 28 
			 South East Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 52 
			 South West South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 65 
			 North West Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 41 
			 64 Total PFI 7,510 
		
	
	Notes:
	The capital value of PFI schemes is approximate and defined as:
	Total Capital Cost to the private sector includes the costs of land, construction, equipment and professional fees but excludes Value Added Tax, rolled up interest and financing costs such as bank arrangement fees, bank due diligence fees, banks' lawyers fees and third party equity costs. As PFI procures a service rather than the underlying asset, capital values shown are necessarily estimates.

NHS Pensions Agency

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the total lump sum cash payment received by the NHS Pension Agency from transfers back into the scheme as a result of the outcome of private pensions mis-selling; and if he will estimate the sums still to be received.

John Hutton: In the period 1 October 1996 to 31 October 2001, the National Health Service Pensions Agency received cash payments totalling £753,915,089 in respect of transfers back into the NHS Pension Scheme arising from the review of private pensions mis-selling. The NHS Pensions Agency forecasts receipts to the scheme of a further £95,000,000 over the course of the next two financial years.

Midwives

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what long-term measures there are to encourage midwives to return to work in the NHS apart from the existing one-off incentive payment; and under what circumstances they would be eligible to receive assistance with child care.

John Hutton: The Department is working closely with the Royal College of Midwives to encourage and support returning midwives. The National Health Service now offers all midwives improved pay, more supportive and family friendly working and training conditions, better access to continuing professional development and a better career structure. Applications for midwifery diploma courses are 63 per cent. higher than they were in 1997–98. In 2000–01 there were 14 per cent. more training places for midwives than there were in 1996–97. Since February 1999, 299 midwives have already returned to the NHS with another 170 in the pipeline.
	Returning midwives receive £1,500 financial support and generous assistance with child care support is available while retraining. All midwives will have access to the benefits offered by the Department's child care strategy. For example, access to on-site nurseries, offering flexible opening and subsidised places, together with access to child care co-ordinators who will help midwives meet other child care needs. Over 60 new NHS nurseries are currently being built, providing an additional 2,500 places.
	The amount of child care assistance received will be determined by whether or not the returner is employed while retraining. For parents who are not employed while retraining, assistance with child care costs incurred while attending refresher training and associated clinical placements should be provided up to Working Families Tax Credit levels.
	For parents who are employed while retraining, employers and local child care co-ordinators should help returners access suitable, affordable child care, including access to the child care support available through the Working Families Tax Credit, where applicable.

Tonsillectomies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tonsil operations have been cancelled in the last 12 months; how many patients are waiting for tonsil operations; what the average waiting time is for tonsil operations; if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of single-use tonsillectomy instruments in the NHS; and what supplies of single-use tonsillectomy instruments are held by the NHS and how widely they are distributed.

John Hutton: The number of cancellations by procedure is not collected.
	Data are collected on the number of patients waiting for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomies, but tonsillectomies cannot be identified separately. The following table shows the number of patients waiting for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy operations at the end of August 2001.
	
		
			 Months England 
		
		
			 6–8 7,299 
			 9–11 4,078 
			 12–14 1,854 
			 15–17 710 
			 18+ 177 
			 Total waiting 44,576 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health waiting list statistics.
	The average waiting times in national service hospitals in England for tonsillectomies are given in the table.
	
		
			 Year Median days 
		
		
			 1995–96 128 
			 1996–97 116 
			 1997–98 127 
			 1998–99 147 
			 1999–2000 118 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health
	All surgical instruments used in tonsillectomy operations are Conformitte Europeane marked under the provisions of the Medical Devices Regulations and as such are considered fit for their intended purpose. Any breach of these Regulations would be investigated by the Medial Devices Agency's Compliance Unit and action taken as needed. During the summer there were reports of an increase in the rates of secondary haemorrhage at a number of centres following tonsil and adenoid surgery. This was investigated by the MDA who found that in some cases the diathermy used to close the wound was set at too high a power setting, and the instruments being used were in some cases inappropriate for this site. On 10 October the MDA issued advice to the health service to address these problems.
	The NHS Logistics Authority holds sufficient stock to deliver enough single use instruments to perform 10,000 tonsil and adenoid operations each month. 5,000 equivalent operations were performed in October 2000. Any NHS Trust in England can order the single use instruments from the NHS Logistics Authority. The lead-time for delivery is 48 hours for standard service. Faster delivery can be arranged if required.

NHS Priority Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on giving priority to NHS patients over private health policy holders for operations in NHS hospitals.

John Hutton: The overwhelming majority of elective operations carried out in National Health Service trusts are performed on NHS patients. Although NHS trusts are permitted to generate income from providing facilities and staff to operate on private health policy-holders and self-pay patients, trusts must ensure that this private activity is not at the expense of their NHS work.

General Practioner Appraisers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the number of general practitioners who have come forward to act as general practitioner appraisers.

John Hutton: We are pleased with the progress being made towards introduction of appraisal for general practitioners from 1 April 2002. The Department has asked primary care trusts and primary care groups to identify at least three suitable GPs to train as an appraiser. Most have now replied putting forward at least the three nominations requested.

Beta Interferon

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to initiate further trials into the effectiveness of beta interferon; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: We are currently holding discussions with the manufacturers to consider a range of options under which drugs for multiple sclerosis might be made available under the National Health Service. One option is a 'risk-sharing' scheme and until these discussions are concluded we cannot provide the information requested.

Strategic Outline Cases

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason his Department will not accept strategic outline cases for future hospital projects; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Strategic outline cases for major capital projects are accepted in specific rounds by the capital prioritisation advisory group (CPAG) which advises Ministers on each scheme's viability. Ministers can consider cases outside of the CPAG where there is an urgent need. The eventual treatment of such cases will depend on the progress and priority of those schemes already approved to commence their procurements, and the number of schemes waiting to go to tender, so as to ensure optimal value for money.
	29 major hospital projects were announced in February 2001, which should be released to the market over the next 36 months.

Hospital Building

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was (a) the original tender price, (b) final cost, (c) projected time for construction and (d) actual time for construction for each of the last 20 new build hospital schemes under traditional public sector funding.

John Hutton: The details for each of the last 20 new build hospital schemes under traditional public sector funding are shown in the table.
	
		
			   (£ million)  (Months)  
			 NHS Trust Original construction tender price Final construction cost Projected construction time Actual construction time 
		
		
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 16.3 18.4 23.0 25.2 
			 Blackpool Victoria Hospital 14.4 14.4 23.9 28.2 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland 15.2 15.6 22.0 24.0 
			 Homerton Hospital 13.5 14.9 24.0 24.6 
			 Brighton Healthcare 27.5 27.5 31.0 35.2 
			 Medway 36.9 37.8 30.4 35.5 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services 17.6 19.8 22.1 25.8 
			 Birmingham Childrens Hospital 23.7 30.9 14.7 23.1 
			 West Dorset 24.6 26.7 24.6 34.4 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals 17.8 21.9 23.8 23.8 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals 26.6 28.7 35.9 42.4 
			 Royal West Sussex 20.3 20.7 24.5 26.9 
			 Lewisham Hospital 10.4 11.1 12.4 16.9 
			 Bolton Hospitals 21.4 21.6 36.0 33.2 
			 East Kent Hospitals 12.9 13.5 24.0 24.3 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals 10.9 12.3 36.0 41.2 
			 Northumbria Healthcare 12.5 13.3 28.1 28.1 
			 Morecambe Bay 13.4 14.7 39.0 40.8 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter 21.6 23.8 35.8 36.9 
			 Southend Hospital 10.9 11.3 24.0 24.2

NICE

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how his Department monitors the implementation of NICE appraisal guidance throughout the NHS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what advice his Department has given to (a) NHS trusts, (b) health authorities and (c) primary care groups and trusts on how they should audit the implementation of NICE guidance;
	(3)  what advice his Department has given to (a) NHS trusts and (b) health authorities on how they should prescribe treatments that are currently undergoing appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence;
	(4)  if he will publish the data collected by his Department on the implementation of the NICE appraisal guidance.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The Department is monitoring the implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal guidance through its routine performance assessment procedures supplemented by other data sources available to the Department. We will be looking to the Commission for Health Improvement to provide more information in due course. Additionally, we are preparing to implement our manifesto commitment that
	"local health authorities and trusts will be directed to fund drugs and treatments recommended by NICE", and expect to announce further details shortly.
	The Department has not provided specific guidance about the audit of guidance implementation. However, the National Prescribing Centre recently published a guide for National Health Service professionals to help with the process of local implementation of NICE guidance, including audit. NICE itself is developing audit tools which will be published alongside its appraisals.
	Guidance to the NHS on treatments undergoing assessment by NICE is set out in Health Service Circular 1999/176. NHS bodies are advised to continue to use existing arrangements to access the publicly available evidence and to determine local policies for the managed entry of the new intervention.
	We are currently formulating proposals for the release of data about products subject to NICE recommendations.